Artistic Swimming is the New Synchro?
Annette Kellerman’s early performances went in the tank. Literally. Kellerman, an early 1900’s competitive open water swimmer and the first woman to attempt the English Channel (she didn’t make it but set a distance record) performed a daily “Mermaid Show” in a tank at Australia’s Melbourne Aquarium. She was accompanied by eels and other fish. She was paid five pounds per week. The so-called “Aqua Queen” twirled and flexed her way to fame, eventually diving and dancing her way to the United States, submerging herself before audiences in Chicago and Boston. Kellerman briefly appeared in movies like, “Neptune’s Daughter” (1914) and “Venus of the South Seas.” (1924) But she said her most satisfying accomplishment was the creation and popularization of the enabling, form fitting, one-piece bathing suit. Despite her “indecent exposure” arrest while wearing one on a Boston beach, the suit became a staple for female swimmers across the globe.
Kellerman’s “racy” swimwear design made competitive swimming more accessible for women.
Kellerman’s underwater style became known first as water ballet, then synchronized swimming. Today, what’s been recently renamed as “artistic swimming” has been fully adapted with audacious, sparkling costumes, and specific, demanding movements and positions which are rated by degree of difficulty. In 1984 artistic swimming debuted at the Los Angeles Olympics.
“Artistic swimming is a highly technical sport,” explains Coach Traci McNeill. “The physicality combines the strength and precision of a gymnast with the aquatic abilities of an elite swimmer.” Imagine performing a balance beam gymnastic routine, with the additional challenges of water resistance, and team choreography—all while holding your breath—and smiling!
Performances are judged using a degree of difficulty scale, combined with an analysis of specific positions. Scoring seems similar to ice dancing. For example, here’s a partial description of the “fishtail position,” from the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming Figures Manual:
BP 8 Fishtail Position
1. Body extended in Vertical Position with one leg extended forward. The foot of the forward leg is at the surface of the water regardless of the height of the hips. Hip joints must be on a horizontal line.
Photo courtesy PLC Aquatic Artistic Swimming
Core and limb strength are essential for artistic swimmers, most who begin training as children or teenagers. (Annette Kellerman began swimming in her youth following a rickets diagnosis, to increase her leg strength.) Coach Traci believes artistic swimming encourages not only fitness, but confidence in the water and creativity. Lessons in teamwork are inevitable in an artistic swimming environment.
“Most routines are group-based, which demands communication, cooperation and trust,” says Traci. “Artistic swimmers often form close bonds between teammates—those friendships thrive amidst the challenges of performance.”
In her youth, Traci spent summers at a sports camp in Canada—that’s where she first learned how artistic swimming can increase comfortability in the water. Now she’s looking to pass on those lessons to local youth. “We’ll begin with basic sculling, breath control and simple body positions,” Coach says of her new class offering. There’s no previous experience necessary, just a love of the water and willingness to discover your inner Annette – by trying something creative and new.
Classes start in November for students aged 6 – 17. Register here.
