Synchronized Swimming

What is synchronized swimming?

Synchronized swimming is like a ballet or dance performance by a team of swimmers in a pool. The swimmers perform a series of moves that are in sync or complement each other. Generally the swimmers perform these moves with their bodies upside down in the water.

How to do synchronized swimming

A swim team will perform set moves that are identical to each other or complement each other, and also complement the music, similar to a ballet or gymnastics performance. These swimmers are very athletic, and have the ability to hold their breath under water for a long time.

How to win

Judges grade a team’s performance on their technical execution of moves as a team as well as the artistry of their performance. The team with the highest score wins.

Equipment

Bathing suit – teams wear matching bathing suits that are specially designed, like costumes, to match the music and theme of their performance
Bathing cap – swimmers sometimes where caps to hide or hold their hair down
Nose plugs – these are sometimes worn to stop water from going up a swimmer’s nose

Synchronized swimming moves

Thrust – the swimmer is upside down in the water, puts his/her legs straight together and lifts his/her body straight out of the water so that the legs are completely visible, and then pulls his/her body straight back down into the water
Spin – the swimmer is upside down in the water, puts his/her legs straight together and lifts his/her body straight out of the water so that the legs are completely visible, and then spins his/her body around in a complete circle
Front walk up – the swimmer is upside down in the water, puts one leg straight up, and uses the other leg to step up out of the water and pull his/her body up so that he/she are lying face-up on the water