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By Courtney McGinley
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Artistic swimming returns to Paris with a revamped scoring system and defending gold medalists.
Artistic swimming, known for its fusion of water acrobatics and music, first made waves decades ago. Originally featuring men, the sport evolved to become predominantly female, but men will return to the Olympic stage in Paris 2024, competing in the team event.
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What is artistic swimming?
Newsweek reached out to World Aquatics who said artistic swimming is known as a sport involving extreme athleticism, power, strength, endurance and flexibility while holding your breath.
In the early 20th century, artistic swimming began to gain traction in the U.S. through a series of demonstrations, according to the Olympics' official website.
The sport, which blends water acrobatics with music, initially featured men in its competitions. Men have competed for decades in the lower levels of the sport formerly known as synchronized swimming.
When did it become an Olympic sport?
As artistic swimming became more associated with women and gained popularity, the first official competitions were introduced at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.
However, men are now making their debut in the Olympic pool at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They are eligible to compete only in the team event, not the duet, with a maximum of two men allowed on each eight-member squad.
Artistic swimming features two events: duet and team competitions. Duet events include a technical routine and a free routine, while the team event adds an acrobatic routine.
Judges score the routines based on several criteria: difficulty, synchronization, execution, and artistic impression. Athletes must either propel themselves out of the water for certain movements or pivot with their upper bodies submerged, requiring exceptional flexibility, strength, attention to detail and coordination.
Under the new scoring system, routines are choreographed based on categories and assigned a degree of difficulty.
Why was the name of synchronized swimming changed?
In 2017, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) changed the name of the sport from "synchronized swimming" to "artistic swimming." However, the new name has not yet fully resonated with general audiences.
In a statement, the CEO of Artistic Swimming described the name change as part of an evolution for the sport.
"The name change offers us an opportunity to showcase how the sport has evolved," Adam Andrasko said. "Gone are the days of water ballet. This is where true athleticism and artistry meet. We look forward to showing you how exciting artistic swimming is."
How can I watch artistic swimming at the Olympics?
From August 5 through August 10, viewers can dive into all the action of the latest competition on E! and NBC. E! will air replays of events previously broadcast on NBC, while NBC continues to provide live coverage.
For those looking to stream, Peacock and Fubo offer live streaming options. New users can take advantage of Fubo's week-long free trial to experience the coverage before committing.
The first event, the Team Technical Routine, is scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m. EST.
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Who is competing for Team USA?
The athletes representing Team USA at the 2024 Games include Anita Alvarez, Daniella Ramirez, Megumi Field (Duet), Jamie Czarkowki (Duet), Jacklyn Luu, Audrey Kwon, Keana Hunter, Ruby Remati and Calista Liu serving as Olympic alternate.
In an interview, Andrasko stated the team, including eight Olympians and an alternate, has earned this moment through years of hard work and dedication.
"We also celebrate and acknowledge the entire national team who contributed toward our qualification. We would not be here without them," said Andrasko. "The parents, friends, coaches, judges, every member of USA Artistic Swimming and beyond who have supported these athletes are celebrated. Together we have developed a team to believe in, a team that will inspire us all.
Alvarez is set to make her third Olympic appearance in Paris, becoming the first USAAS athlete since Sarah Josephson to compete in three Olympic Games
Team USA should look out for Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, the 27-year-old twins from China, who dominated at this year's World Championships in Doha, Qatar, and are expected to be among the gold-medal favorites in Paris.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about the 2024 Paris Olympics? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
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