What is Artistic Swimming?

Originally known as Synchronised Swimming, Artistic Swimming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance, and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing routines to music. Artistic swimming is governed internationally by FINA, nationally by British Swimming and became an Olympic discipline at the Los Angeles 1984 Games.

 

Artistic swimmers use techniques such as sculling, in which they move their hands through the water to hold positions or move; and an eggbeater kick, in which they do the same with their legs to propel themselves up out of the water.

 

In competition, swimmers demonstrate their strength, flexibility, and aerobic endurance by performing complex and elaborate routines in front of panel of judges who use strict guidelines to score the performances, looking at artistic impression and technical merit.

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There are four main categories of competition:

• Solos – where an individual swimmer will synchronise with the music.

• Duets – where a swimmer co-ordinates with their partner and in time to the music.

• Teams – where the swimmer co-ordinates with up to seven other athletes and in time to the music.

• Combination – a team routine where up to ten swimmers perform in one continuous routine. During the routine there will be segments where different numbers of swimmers will perform.

 

In most senior competitions, swimmers perform two routines for the judges, one technical and one free.

 

The technical routine involves performing predetermined elements that must be executed in a specific order. The free routine has no requirements so the swimmers can be ‘free’ in how creative they get with the movements and their choreography.

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To find out more about Artistic Swimming in England, visit the Swim England website.

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The Olympic Channel on YouTube has some fun videos about the sport

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