About Artistic Swimming

Artistic swimming combines the flexibility of gymnasts, the endurance of a marathon runner, the propulsion of an Olympic swimmer, the artistic quality of a figure skater with the grace and ease of a dancer.

Artistic swimming is an Olympic sport and art form that requires a unique combination of overall body strength and agility, grace and beauty, split-second timing, musical interpretation, stamina and artistic expression. Otherwise known as synchronized swimming, artistic swimming can be performed as a solo, duet, trio, team or combo (ten artistic swimmers performing a combination of solo, duet, trio and teams).

Set to music and theme, routines involve teamwork, power, synchronization, and dramatic performance. Artistic Swimming routines feature highlights or “lifts,” acrobatic movements in which the team lifts or throws one or more athletes above the water. Athletes learn to count music and perform routines to counts in unison. As athletes progress, routines become more artistic and technically difficult.

Younger athletes will also train figures and skills. Figures are short, set combinations of basic elements, focusing on strength and control, performed in front of a panel of judges. Novice, Intermediate, 12 and under, and 13-15 age group categories all compete in figure competition. Athletes also compete in “Grade Level Testing,” or skills that improve fitness and enhance their overall performance. These skills develop strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, and more.