Paris, France – The 2024 Paris Olympics are set to make history in the world of artistic swimming, previously known as synchronized swimming, by including male athletes for the first time. This groundbreaking change marks a significant step forward for the sport, which has traditionally been dominated by female competitors since its Olympic debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Event Overview and Schedule
Artistic swimming will feature both team and duet competitions at the Paris Games. The events will be held at the state-of-the-art Olympics Aquatics Center. The competition kicks off on Monday with the team technical routine at 1:30 p.m. ET. The team events include three distinct routines: technical, free, and for the first time, an acrobatic routine. The duet competition comprises a technical routine and a free routine.
The United States team is set to perform seventh out of ten nations in the technical routine, synchronized to the iconic tune of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.” The performances will be judged on execution, synchronization, degree of difficulty, use of music, and choreography. Athletes must demonstrate exceptional flexibility, coordination, and attention to detail to excel in this demanding sport.
Inclusion of Male Athletes
The inclusion of male athletes in artistic swimming comes after a significant rule change by the sport’s governing body in 2022, allowing up to two male athletes per nation in the team discipline. This change has paved the way for a more inclusive and diverse competition, although none of the participating teams at Paris 2024 have named male athletes to their rosters.
Historical Context and Current Competitors
Since its inception as an Olympic sport, artistic swimming has seen North American countries, especially the U.S. and Canada, achieve early success. However, Russia has emerged as the dominant force, clinching every gold medal in both the team and duet disciplines since the 2000 Sydney Games. Due to an IOC decision related to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia is ineligible to compete in Paris, breaking their long-standing winning streak.
For the first time since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the United States will compete in both the duet and team events, signaling a strong comeback in the sport. The U.S. team’s performance will be closely watched, especially with the inclusion of an acrobatic routine, adding a new layer of excitement and challenge.
Challenges and Training Regimen
Artistic swimming athletes endure rigorous training to perfect their routines. Two-time American Olympian Anita Alvarez, who nearly drowned during a competition in 2022, emphasizes the grueling nature of the sport. “We train over eight hours a day, treading water constantly,” she said. “You have to keep time with the music, watch your patterns, and stay in line without goggles. Holding your breath and never touching the bottom adds to the challenge.”
Watching the Competition
Fans can catch the artistic swimming events live on Peacock or stream them on nbcolympics.com, with the first competition airing at 1:30 p.m. ET. Coverage will also be available on E! starting at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Artistic Swimming Olympics Schedule
- August 5: Team technical routine, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET
- August 6: Team free routine, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET
- August 7: Team acrobatic routine, 1:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. ET
- August 9: Duet technical routine, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET
- August 10: Duet free routine, 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET
As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, the inclusion of male athletes in artistic swimming promises to bring a fresh dynamic to the sport, captivating audiences and breaking new ground in Olympic history.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on the available data and current events around the time of publication, to the best of our staff research and knowledge. It is intended for educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as professional advice, financial advice, sports betting advice, or life advice. It is simply our best guess, something to add to your research. We at Las Vegas Top Picks do our best to get stories accurate, but sometimes mistakes and biases happen, and it is always good to double-check other sources and media outlets to confirm stories and the factual details. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the overall opinion of Las Vegas Top Picks.
