Elements of Competition

Synchronized swimming is an artistic sport, like ice skating. Sequined suits are meant to enhance the performance. Makeup brings out the swimmer's features, and the smiles you might see plastered on a swimmer's face are meant to deceive the audience into believing that the performance is easy. Would you want to watch a routine if the swimmers looked like they were in pain?

In a five minute routine, synchronized swimmers might spend up to one minute under water without air. At the same time, they are using their arms and legs to suspend themselves above water. Doing this is similar to running while holding your breath!

A lift is done by raising the body of one or more swimmers up to or above the surface of the water. Swimmers execute lifts with only their body strength and are not allowed to use the bottom of the pool.

The most important piece of equipment for synchronized swimmers is the nose clip. Although it may seem unusual, the nose clip is vital because it prevents water from entering the nasal cavity during upside-down movements. For lack of a better product, dissolved unflavored gelatin is used to keep the synchronized swimmer's hair in place while she is spinning upside down and moving through the pool.