SNOHOMISH, Wash. — Swimming is one thing. Dancing is another. But Artistic Swimming, combining dance and swimming, is an entirely new thing for me and Mimi. Talk about a challenge!
Head Coach of Seattle Synchro Daniela Garmendia had a plan for us to learn what the sport is all about. It combines water acrobatics with music.
"You are trying to get the judges' attention, and make a statement," said Garmendia. "You are trying to convey an emotion."
The junior team at Seattle Synchro worked with us in the water at the Snohomish Aquatic Center. But first, we needed our swim caps and nose plugs. (I later found out why those are so necessary.)
Coach Garmendia helped us learn the basic moves. The first is called The Tub. It's when you lay your head back and lay flat, while floating on the water. Seems simple enough! We nailed this one.
Then, the Back Tuck. It's a Tub, but we pull our legs to our chest. It's a move that looks very impressive, when you do it as a group in sync! But the next move made this more complicated.
It's called the Pinwheel. It's a Tuck, only you spin with your legs bent to one side. It looks like a pinwheel. And the challenge here is spinning, using your arms.
This is where the real skill comes in with Artistic Swimming. Can you do this move, while also matching your team members in sync?
The Oyster is a move that reminded me why we wear nose plugs. It's basically a back somersault in the water. This wasn't too difficult, but to do it over and over again would be tiring!
Then, coach Gamendia wanted a finale.
"It's time for a final pose!" she said. I knew it was time for the biggest challenge of all.
The junior team of Seattle Synchro grouped together underwater to try a lift. The goal was to lift me and Mimi out of the water, but hoisting us up from underwater. I think they had the most difficult job to be honest! But we gave it a try (I'm sure it was MUCH easier to lift Mimi than me!)
The finale shot was worthy of Olympic gold in my book. Thank you to the Seattle Synchro. Keana Hunter and Audrey Kwon, both from Seattle Synchro, will be competing in the Paris Olympic games!
Artistic swimming became an Olympic discipline at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. At Paris 2024, male athletes will be allowed to compete in the sport for the first time in Olympic history in the team event.