There's that music - there's that music - that searching for the first moment of silence in the stadium, a looking for something in the appearance of eight swimmers in perfect harmony in and out of the water, limbs flashing above the surface like a poem set to motion. That is not swimming. That is Artistic Swimming . A dance of rhythm with resistance, grace with grit - and the pool, a platform.
We are completely immersed within the Olympic Artistic Swimming world, from its origins and rules to the great champions and the breathtaking focus of Paris 2024: every aspect of this mesmerizing "aquatic ballet"
From Ballet to the Pool: A Brief History
Artistic Swimming wasn't always called that. In fact, up until 2017, it was known worldwide as Synchronized Swimming - a name that emphasized unity but missed the artistry. The sport made its Olympic debut in 1984 Los Angeles , and while many initially viewed it as a novelty act, it has since risen to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with gymnastics, figure skating, and diving.
Interesting Fact:
Artistic swimming routines are so physically demanding that athletes can hold their breath underwater for up to 1.5 - 2 minutes while performing!
Today, Artistic Swimming combines elements of dance, gymnastics, and swimming , all choreographed to music. It's a stunning blend of flexibility, timing, and theatrical performance.
Top Nations in Artistic Swimming
Since its Olympic inclusion, several countries have risen to the surface as Artistic Swimming titans. Let's meet the ones making waves:
Historical Powerhouses
- Russia (as ROC) ruled the sport for more than 20 years. The best example of technical perfection.
- China : Known for their daring lifts and how well they work together like machines.
- Japan : routines that focus on accuracy and bright motifs.
- Spain : Each routine is like a mini movie, full of creativity and emotion.
- Ukraine : coming out with performances that are visually rich and athletic.
Nations to Watch in 2024
- Italy : Thanks to performers like Minisini and Cerruti, they're changing the way mixed routines are done.
- USA and Canada : They're back in the medal conversation with a fresh focus.
- France : The host country has a young team that is very passionate and has the home field advantage.
- Brazil and Mexico : They've been doing well in recent global tournaments with new dance moves and exciting stories.
Meet the Stars: Athletes to Watch
In Artistic Swimming, the athletes aren't just swimmers - they're storytellers, acrobats, and warriors in water.
Women's Duet Stars
- Wang Qianyi and Wang Liuyi (China) : Twin sisters who are recognized for being in perfect harmony. Champions scored a total of 566.4783 points, which is a great balance of technical skill (276.7867) and creative flair (289.6916). Known for their regular "Cheetah" and a flawless 10.0 in the first lift
- Moe Higa and Mashiro Yasunaga (Japan) : The best of both worlds - artistic skill and athletic strength.
- Alisa Ozhogina and Iris Ti from Spain are emotional artists with a lot of stage presence.
Mixed Duet Highlights
- Giorgio Minisini and Lucrezia Ruggiero from Italy are icons of the mixed discipline who are changing the way gender roles are seen in the sport.
- Bill May (USA) : a trailblazer who showed that art has no gender.
Shortman & Thorpe (GBR)
Overcame early setbacks to capture gold-level free routine, and ignited a wave of emotional national pride.
de Broewers (NED)
A pair of artistic twins delivering a performance rooted in Dutch culture and emotional cohesion .
Deadzone Trivia: Anastasia Davydova (Russia) is the most decorated Olympic Artistic Swimmer with five gold medals !
How Is Artistic Swimming Scored?
Gone are the days of guessing what the judges saw. The scoring in Artistic Swimming is detailed, data-driven, and split into two main categories:
Category | Weightage | Components |
Technical Merit | 50% | Execution, difficulty, required elements |
Artistic Impression | 50% | Choreography, interpretation, synchronization |
Rules, Scoring & Evolution
Artistic Swimming combines sport and spectacle. Routines - technical, free, and acrobatic - are weighted by:
- Technical Merit (50%) : difficulty, execution, lifts
- Artistic Impression (50%) : synchronization, choreography, musicality
Mistakes are costly - breaking formation, touching the pool floor or going off-timing can spoil a routine. And yes, costumes, music, and storytelling matter - this is performance art with athletic rigor.
Judges consider lifts, transitions, facial expressions, breath control , and how well the routine complements the music. Deductions are harsh - splashing, loss of synchronization, or breaking formation can severely hurt a score.
Note:
Athletes must not touch the pool floor during a routine. Every movement is powered by core strength and sculling alone!
The Theatrics: Music, Makeup, and Meaning
You don't just see an Artistic Swimming performance - you feel it.
- Costumes are glittery but functional, designed to withstand chlorine and allow movement.
- Music is played underwater via specialized speakers, helping swimmers stay in rhythm.
- Makeup and gelled hair (yes, with unbudging gelatin!) ensures that athletes look identical even after multiple dives.
The visual storytelling - themes ranging from ancient mythology to social justice - makes each performance unforgettable.
Medal Trends & Olympic Stats
Here's a quick look at how countries have performed from 1984 to 2020:
Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
Russia | 10 | 0 | 0 |
USA | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Japan | 0 | 4 | 3 |
China | 0 | 5 | 4 |
Spain | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Artistic Swimming at Paris Olympics 2024: What's New?
Paris 2024 is more than just another edition. It's a landmark year for Artistic Swimming.
Event | Date | Venue | Participants |
Women's Duet | August 5 - 6 | Paris Aquatics Centre | 18 pairs |
Team Routine | August 8 - 10 | Paris Aquatics Centre | 10 teams |
Mixed Duet (New) | Debuting in 2024 | Paris Aquatics Centre | Select nations |
For the first time in Olympic history , mixed duets - where men and women perform together - will make a splash. It's a powerful signal of inclusivity and evolution, opening doors for male athletes who've long trained in the shadows.
"It's not just a women's sport anymore. It's an art form that anyone with passion can master."
- Giorgio Minisini , Italian Artistic Swimmer and Mixed Duet World Champion
Paris 2024 Medal Results
Women's Duet (Aug 9 - 10)
The podium told a story of new beginnings:
Ranking | Pair | NOC | Total Score |
1 | Wang Liuyi & Wang Qianyi | China | 566.4783 |
2 | Kate Shortman & Isabelle Thorpe | Great Britain | 558.5367 |
3 | Bregje & Noortje de Brouwer | Netherlands | 558.3963 |
The twins from China clinched gold - their first in duet history - breaking Russia's six-Games streak. Great Britain's Shortman & Thorpe pulled off a sensational silver with the highest free routine score , delivering a sweet surprise. Meanwhile, the Dutch twins landed bronze in a tightly fought contest.
Women's Team (Aug 7)
This event marked China's first-ever team gold , with a commanding total of 996.1389 , dominated by an electric Acrobatic Routine score of 283.6934.
- Silver: United States - 914.3421
- Bronze: Spain - 900.7319
The USA celebrated their first Artistic Swimming medal since 2004, finishing strong across routines.
Paris 2024 Highlights
- Great Britain made history in artistic swimming when Shortman and Thorpe won silver, the first Olympic medal in their sport.
- USA won silver thanks to their free and acrobatic routines.
- Netherlands : Won their first Olympic artistic swimming medal in duet.
What Lies Ahead
Paris 2024 sent ripples across the sport:
- More guys were included , but the number of men chosen stayed low.
- Changes to the rules , including having more women and being more open about scoring, point to a brave, welcoming future.
- The focus on new medalists like China, GBR, NED, and the USA suggests that there will be more global rivalry in the future.
LA 2028 might show an even broader range of nations and stories - because once a wave starts, it carries.
The Future of Artistic Swimming
As Artistic Swimming dives into its next phase, inclusion takes center stage. More men are training, new nations are rising, and storytelling is being taken to cinematic levels.
With Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, Artistic Swimming is no longer in the shadows of more "mainstream" sports. It's a shining testament to what the human body - and soul - can achieve in unison with water and music.
Conclusion
It is not just a sport but an art of potential conversation between motion and music. It tells and shows something evokes emotions and represents the kind of harmony not between teammates alone but across nations. As we have a look at Paris 2024 , we are not just looking at swimmers but artists at the peak of human potential.
So next time you watch a team dive into the water, remember-it's more than just choreography.