Artistic Swimming
Artistic swimming, also known as synchronized swimming, is a hybrid form of swimming, dance, and gymnastics that involves swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music. This sport requires great strength, endurance, flexibility, grace, precise timing, and exact execution of complex routines. Artistic swimming is a water sport that falls under the broader category of aquatic sports, which encompasses all activities that take place in or on water. Within aquatic sports, artistic swimming is a subcategory of synchronized swimming, a term that has been officially changed by FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) to artistic swimming to emphasize the artistic component of the sport. Artistic swimming is also considered an amateur sport as it is not typically a professional career path for athletes, but rather a competitive activity pursued at various levels, from local to international. In artistic swimming, athletes perform two types of routines: technical and free. Technical routines involve specific required elements that must be executed in a precise order, while free routines allow for greater creativity and choreography. Both solo and duet competitions, as well as team events with up to eight swimmers, are common in artistic swimming. Artistic swimming requires swimmers to hold their breath for long periods underwater, execute complex sculls, lifts, and jumps while maintaining perfect synchronization with their fellow athletes. This sport highlights the grace and beauty of fluid movements in water, pushing the boundaries of athleticism and artistry.
External Links
- [usaartisticswim.org] USA Artistic Swimming | Artistic Swimming Home Page