Artistic Swimming: Ancient Roman Spectacle to Modern Olympic Sport
Initially a form of entertainment, synchronized swimming has evolved as an athletic discipline, and is now branded as Artistic Swimming.
Swimming Articles
Read more about my research on aquatic performance and synchronized swimming here.
Where Did ‘Synchronized Swimming’ Go?
More than 30 years after its Olympic debut, the sport was rebranded as “artistic swimming”—a controversial move that athletes fear could backfire.
Diving In Headfirst
The moderator gives us a nod, and we walk in unison along the edge of the deep end. “Aaaaaand stop!” comes a call from the rear. We pivot to face the pool and bend and stretch into formation, surrounding our seven-person clump with a sunburst of jazz hands. I feel hundreds of eyes watching as we wait for the music, smiling in our silver and pink swimsuits and glittery eyeliner.
A whistle blows, and “Boogie Shoes” by KC and the Sunshine Band explodes from the loudspeakers. I dive on my count, my
A whistle blows, and “Boogie Shoes” by KC and the Sunshine Band explodes from the loudspeakers. I dive on my count, my
In Retirement, Former Opera Singer Finds Passion in Synchronized Swimming
After retiring from the Opera Society of Washington—where she sang soprano for 15 years—Ireland, now 71, joined the DC SynchroMasters, a synchronized-swimming team, and took her artistry from the stage to the water.
Where Did 'Synchronized Swimming' Go?
More than 30 years after its Olympic debut, the sport was rebranded as “artistic swimming”—a controversial move that athletes fear could backfire.
Synchronized Swimming Has a History That Dates Back to Ancient Rome
Most people think of synchronized swimming, which gained Olympic status in 1984, as a newcomer sport that dates back only as far as Esther Williams' midcentury movies. But the aquatic precursors of synchronized swimming are nearly as old as the Olympics themselves.
The Men of Masters
While the fact that men can synch seemed to be news to much of the world when Bill May and Christina Jones won the gold in Kazan, Russia this summer, that came as no surprise to those within the synchronized swimming community.
Duet Partners Share a Century of Synchro
Shirley Monce was singing on radio before there was TV. Jeanne Carlson was a computer programmer when computers were so big a grown man could fit inside and few women had jobs outside the home, let alone careers. Between the two of them, they have more than 100 years of synchronized swimming experience.
Masters Synchro Pioneer Weiman Celebrates 39th International Medal
This summer at the 2015 FINA World Masters Championships in Kazan, Russia, Nancy Hunt Weiman of the DC Synchromasters scored first place in the solo event for the 60-69 age group, making this her 39th world championship medal, including 23 gold.
Ramapo Aqua Masters, Spanning the Decades
At the 2015 USA Synchro Masters Championships, the Ramapo Aqua Masters realized there was something extra special about their six team members who had traveled to the Grand Rapids meet: They were each born in a different decade, with their birth years spanning six consecutive decades from the roaring '20s to the groovy '70s.
