Federation: FINA
First Played: 1952
Team Members: 1 or 2
Equipment: Swimsuit, Cap, Goggles
Field: Outdoor or Indoor
Olympic Participation: 1984
Description:
Synchronized swimming, also known as water ballet, is a sport that combines swimming, dance, and gymnastics. Although it emerged in the late 1800s, it was primarily presented as a performance in circuses and fairs for many years. It was recognized by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1952. The first World Championship for synchronized swimming was held in 1973, and it was included in the Olympic program in 1984.
Synchronized swimming can be performed by one or two individuals. In team competitions, one athlete usually takes the lead, guiding the team. This leader can be at the front or in the middle, but during the competition, the audience does not notice who the leader is. Scoring is done by judges from different countries. Various elements such as the initial pose before entering the pool, the dive into the water, the exit from the water, alignment while awaiting scores, greeting the judges and audience, musical interpretation, teamwork, and underwater synchronization are all scored on a scale of 10. Almost all athletes wear waterproof makeup and hairstyles due to the artistic aspect of synchronized swimming.
History:
In the early 20th century, synchronized swimming was known as water ballet. The first recorded competition took place in Berlin, Germany, in 1891. Many swimming clubs were established at that time, and the sport also developed simultaneously in Canada. Aside from its existence as a sport, it became a popular addition to music hall evenings in various theaters in London and Glasgow, which had water tanks on stage. In 1907, Annette Kellerman from Australia popularized the sport by performing as an underwater ballerina in a glass tank at the New York Hippodrome. After experimenting with various underwater diving movements and stunts, Katherine Curtis joined one of the first water ballet clubs at the University of Chicago, where the team began to perform "tricks" and floating formations. The first U.S. synchronized swimming competition took place on May 27, 1939, at Wright Junior College between Wright College and another college. In the late 19th century, synchronized swimming was exclusively a male event. However, it became a women’s sport in the 20th century, alongside many other sports that excluded men. In the U.S., men were allowed to participate in synchronized swimming until 1941, when it became part of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The AAU required men and women to compete separately, which led to a decrease in male participants. In the 1940s and 1950s, Bert Hubbard and Donn Squire were among the top male competitors in the U.S. In 1978, the U.S. changed its rules to allow men to compete alongside women once again. Rules vary in other countries; in England, men were banned from competing until 2014, while in France, Benoît Beaufils was allowed to compete in national events in the 1990s. Bill May from the U.S. competed at the end of the 1990s and early 2000s.
Field Dimensions:
The pool length is 50 meters. If automatic timing equipment is used at the start or in addition at the turn, the pool must be 50 meters long to provide the necessary distance between the two touch pads. The width of the pool is 25 meters. If automatic timing equipment is used at the start or in addition at the turn, the pool width must also be 25 meters. For pools with starting blocks, the required measurements are as follows: a minimum depth of 1.35 meters, extending at least six meters from the finish wall. Other types of pools require a minimum depth of 1.0 meter.
