Synchronized Swimming (Artistic Swimming) at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Synchronized swimming, now officially known as Artistic Swimming, is a captivating blend of swimming, dance, and gymnastics. This unique sport has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1984, mesmerizing audiences with its combination of athleticism and artistry. In this article, we'll delve into the details of synchronized swimming at the Paris Summer Olympics 2024, answering common questions and providing key information to enhance your understanding of this spectacular sport.

What is Synchronized Swimming?

Synchronized swimming, or artistic swimming, involves athletes performing coordinated and elaborate routines in the water to music. The sport requires a blend of strength, flexibility, and precision, making it one of the most visually striking events in the Olympics.

History of Synchronized Swimming at the Olympics

Synchronized swimming debuted at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with solo and duet events. The solo event was later discontinued, and since 2000, the Olympic program includes duet and team events. These events highlight the swimmers' synchronization, choreography, and technical skill.

Olympic Events in Synchronized Swimming

1. Duet: Two swimmers perform a synchronized routine.
2. Team: Eight swimmers perform a coordinated routine.

Each event consists of two parts:

1. Technical Routine: Swimmers must perform a series of required elements in a set order within a specified time limit.
2. Free Routine: Swimmers have the freedom to create their own choreography, showcasing creativity and artistic impression.

Key Skills in Synchronized Swimming

Strength and Endurance: Swimmers must support themselves and their teammates above the water without touching the pool bottom.

Flexibility and Grace: Artistic movements require high flexibility and the ability to perform ballet-like maneuvers in water.

Breath Control: Swimmers often perform complex moves underwater, requiring exceptional breath control.

Teamwork and Synchronization: Perfect timing and coordination are crucial for a seamless performance.

Changes and Innovations for Paris 2024

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will feature a mixed-gender team event for the first time, allowing up to two men in each team of eight. This change aims to promote gender equality and bring a new dynamic to the sport.

Synchronized Swimming Olympics 2024 Schedule

Artistic swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will be held from August 5 to August 10, 2024, at the Paris Aquatic Centre. The competition will feature both team and duet events, showcasing a mix of technical and free routines.

Schedule Overview

Team Events:

1. Technical Routine: August 5, 2024, from 19:30 to 21:00
2. Free Routine: August 6, 2024, from 19:30 to 21:00
3. Acrobatic Routine: August 7, 2024, from 19:30 to 21:15

Duet Events:

1. Technical Routine: August 9, 2024, from 19:30 to 21:30
2. Free Routine (Final): August 10, 2024, from 19:30 to 22:00

Synchronized Swimming Olympics 2024 Athletes

For the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, several notable athletes are set to compete in artistic swimming, showcasing a mix of experienced veterans and rising stars.

Notable Athletes to Watch

United States

1. Anita Alvarez: A seasoned competitor, Alvarez returns for her third Olympics, leading a young U.S. team aiming to make a significant impact. She will compete in both the duet and team events.
2. Megumi Field and Jaime Czarkowski: These athletes are also key members of Team USA, participating in both disciplines.

Spain

1. Iris Tió Casas and Alisa Ozhogina Ozhogin: Representing Spain in the duet event, these athletes are known for their artistry and technical skills.

Japan

1. Moe Higa and Tomoka Sato: Part of Japan's strong team, which has a consistent presence in every Olympic Games since 1984.

China

1. Liuyi Wang and Qianyi Wang: Competing in both the team and duet events, China remains a formidable force in artistic swimming.

Italy

1. Linda Cerruti and Lucrezia Ruggiero: Leading the Italian team, they are known for their impressive performances and will be strong contenders in Paris.

Other participating countries include Canada, Egypt, France, Great Britain, Greece, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, and Ukraine. Each team will bring its unique style and strength to the competition, making the artistic swimming events highly anticipated.

Artistic swimming Olympics Winners - Paris Olympics 2024

Team Competition

Gold: People's Republic of China China triumphed in the team artistic swimming competition, securing their first-ever Olympic gold medal with a remarkable score of 996.1389. The Chinese team showcased a flawless combination of technical skill, artistry, and synchronization across all three routines: technical, free, and acrobatic. Their performances were characterized by high difficulty, intricate choreography, and impeccable execution. This historic win marks a significant achievement for China's artistic swimming program, highlighting their dominance and precision in the sport.

Silver: United States The United States earned the silver medal with a total score of 914.3421. This marks a significant comeback for the American team, breaking a 20-year medal drought in the sport. The team's success was driven by their innovative and high-difficulty routines, particularly their free routine, which scored 360.2688. Audrey Kwon, the team's acrobatics specialist, was instrumental in their success, performing challenging lifts and throws with remarkable skill. The team's creative training methods, led by coach Andrea Fuentes, played a crucial role in their achievement.

Bronze: Spain Spain secured the bronze medal with a total score of 900.7319, making it their first Olympic medal in artistic swimming since the London 2012 Games. Their routines were energetic and engaging, featuring music that resonated with the audience, such as Eminem's "Lose Yourself." The Spanish team's performance was powerful and emotionally charged, earning them a well-deserved place on the podium. Their coach's innovative approach to music selection and routine design was key to their success.

Duet Competition

Gold Medal Winners: Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi (China) The Chinese twins, Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, dominated the duet competition, earning the gold medal with a score of 566.4783 points. Their performance was a masterclass in synchronization and artistic expression, continuing China's rising dominance in artistic swimming, especially in the absence of Russia. This victory builds on their world championship successes and marks a new era for China in this sport.

Silver Medalists: Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe (Great Britain) Great Britain's Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe won the silver medal with 558.5367 points, marking the UK's first-ever Olympic medal in artistic swimming. Their routine was praised for its emotional depth and technical precision, narrowly beating the Dutch duo for the silver spot.

Bronze Medalists: Noortje and Bregje de Brouwer (Netherlands) The Dutch twins, Noortje and Bregje de Brouwer, secured the bronze medal with 558.3963 points, making history for the Netherlands as their first Olympic medal in the sport. Their performance was noted for its strong technical elements and the unique synchronicity that twins bring to the competition.

Key Contenders From the beginning, China was favored due to the Wang twins' track record. Japan and Spain were also strong competitors. As the event unfolded, the Wang twins solidified their lead, while the British and Dutch teams emerged as significant contenders, making the competition tight and exciting.

Artistic swimming Olympics Results

August 10, 2024

Duet Competition

The Chinese duo of Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi continued their dominance in artistic swimming by winning the gold medal in the duet competition. They scored a total of 566.4783 points, securing China's top spot in the event. This victory is part of China's broader success in artistic swimming at the Paris Olympics, where they also won gold in the team event.

The silver medal in the duet event went to the British pair of Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe, who scored 558.5367 points. They narrowly edged out the Dutch twins Noortje and Bregje de Brouwer, who took the bronze with a score of 558.3963. This marks the first-ever Olympic medals in artistic swimming for both the UK and the Netherlands.

August 7, 2024

Team Competition

The artistic swimming team competition concluded with China capturing its first-ever Olympic gold medal. They dominated the event with a stunning final score of 996.1389, showcasing exceptional artistry and technical prowess across all routines.

The United States won the silver medal with a total score of 914.3421, breaking a 20-year medal drought in this event. Their performances were highlighted by creative and high-difficulty routines, especially their free routine, which scored 360.2688. Audrey Kwon, an acrobatics specialist, played a key role in their success with her impressive lifts and throws.

Spain secured the bronze medal with a total score of 900.7319, delivering powerful and crowd-pleasing performances, particularly their routine set to Eminem's "Lose Yourself".

Duet Competition

The duet technical routine saw China leading with a score of 93.7253, followed by Japan with 92.5000, and Spain with 91.1000. The United States scored 90.2000, showing strong synchronization and technical execution. The final results for the duet event will be determined after the free routine on August 10, where the combined scores of both routines will decide the medal winners.

August 6, 2024

In the team competition, the teams competed in three categories: technical routine, free routine, and acrobatic routine. China led the rankings with impressive performances across all routines, achieving a total score of 712.4455. The United States followed with a strong showing, particularly in the free routine, amassing a total score of 643.0255. Spain also performed well, securing a total score of 633.6119.

In the duet events, teams competed in technical and free routines. China led the duet technical round with a score of 93.7253, followed by Japan with 92.5000, and Spain with 91.1000. The United States scored 90.2000, showcasing strong technical and artistic elements.

Team Score

In the second round of the artistic swimming competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the results for the team free routine were as follows:

1. China: Achieved a score of 398.8917, bringing their total to 712.4455.
2. United States: Scored 360.2688, with a cumulative total of 643.0255.
3. Spain: Earned 346.4644, reaching a total of 633.6119.
4. Japan: Secured 343.0291, totaling 627.9308.
5. France: Achieved 340.0561, with an overall score of 617.8486.

These scores are the results of the technical and free routines, with the acrobatic routine still to come. The teams' performances in these routines are crucial as they contribute to the final rankings and medal determinations.

Duet Score

In the Duet Round of the artistic swimming competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the results for the technical routine were as follows:

1. China: The team performed exceptionally well, scoring 93.7253, showcasing their strong technical skills.
2. Japan: Achieved a score of 92.5000, with their routine marked by precision and artistry.
3. Spain: Scored 91.1000, displaying a solid and synchronized performance.
4. United States: The duet scored 90.2000, performing a well-coordinated and artistic routine.

August 5, 2024

In Round 1, The artistic swimming events at the Paris Olympics saw impressive performances and competitive scores. The United States delivered a strong technical routine, earning a score of 273.2900, placing them fourth behind China, Japan, and Spain. They excelled particularly in the acrobatic routine, scoring 305.2290, which demonstrated their strengths in high-risk elements.

China continued to showcase their dominance, having won all five Olympic routines at the last World Championships in Doha. They are considered the favorites for gold, with their technical precision and artistic execution standing out.

Japan also had a notable performance, with their technical routine being a highlight, securing them a position among the top contenders alongside Spain. Both teams are known for their strong technical skills, contributing to a highly competitive field.

Team Score

Here are the scores for the top artistic swimming teams at the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 5:

1. China: Scored 273.2900 in the technical routine and performed strongly across all routines, establishing themselves as the favorites for gold.

2. Japan: Also scored 273.2900 in the technical routine, closely competing with China.

3. Spain: Scored 273.2900 in the technical routine, maintaining a competitive position alongside China and Japan.

4. United States: Achieved a score of 273.2900 in the technical routine and a total of 305.2290 in the acrobatic routine, placing them fourth overall.

Duet Score

In the duet technical routines of the artistic swimming competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the scores were as follows:

1. China team consisted of Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, led the competition with an impressive score of 93.7253, showcasing their precision and artistry.
2. Japanrepresented by duo of Moeka Kijima and Megumu Yoshida, followed closely with a score of 92.5000, delivering a highly synchronized and elegant routine.
3. Spain featured Alisa Ozhogina and Iris Tió, secured a strong position with a score of 91.1000, displaying their technical skills and creativity.
4. United States duet team comprised Anita Alvarez and Ruby Remati, achieved a score of 90.2000, putting in a solid performance with notable artistic elements.

Artistic swimming Olympics Winners - Tokyo 2020 Olympics

In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) dominated the artistic swimming events, winning gold in both the duet and team competitions. Svetlana Romashina and Svetlana Kolesnichenko secured the gold medal in the duet, marking a continued streak of success for ROC in this sport. The silver medal in the duet went to Huang Xuechen and Sun Wenyan from China, while Marta Fiedina and Anastasiya Savchuk from Ukraine took the bronze.

In the team event, ROC once again claimed gold, with China taking silver and Ukraine earning their second bronze in artistic swimming at the Tokyo Games. This marked a significant achievement for Ukraine, as it was their first time winning Olympic medals in this discipline.

Looking ahead to the Paris 2024 Olympics, ROC's athletes are expected to be strong contenders once again, though they may face challenges from rising teams like Ukraine and established competitors like China.

For more details, you can check the official Tokyo 2020 results page.

Artistic swimming Olympics 2024 Tickets

How to Purchase Tickets?

Tickets for the artistic swimming events are available through the official Paris 2024 ticketing platform. This centralized platform is the exclusive source for purchasing tickets, ensuring a secure and straightforward process for fans worldwide. You can visit the official Paris 2024 ticketing website to secure your tickets.

Ticket Prices

The pricing for artistic swimming tickets varies significantly, ranging from €24 to €330 (approximately $26 to $359 USD). This range accommodates a variety of budgets, with many affordable options available. Nearly one million tickets are priced at €24, making it accessible for more spectators to experience the Olympic magic in person.

Venue and Experience

The Aquatics Center, with a capacity of 5,000 spectators, will host the artistic swimming events. This venue is not only a state-of-the-art facility but also an architectural marvel, featuring one of France's largest urban solar farms. Its design ensures a fantastic experience for both athletes and spectators, promising an atmosphere filled with excitement and emotion.

Don't miss the chance to witness the grace and precision of artistic swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the sport, this is an event that promises unforgettable moments. Secure your tickets now and be part of this extraordinary celebration of athletic excellence.

Common Questions

1. How are routines judged? Judges score routines based on execution, artistic impression, and difficulty. Scores from the technical and free routines are combined to determine the final ranking.

2. What are the essential components of a routine? A routine includes lifts, throws, and coordinated movements both above and below the water's surface, all synchronized to music.

3. How do swimmers stay synchronized underwater? Swimmers use underwater speakers to hear the music and rely on practice and peripheral vision to maintain synchronization.

Synchronized swimming at the Summer Olympics is a celebration of grace, athleticism, and teamwork. As the sport evolves, the inclusion of mixed-gender teams at Paris 2024 adds a new layer of excitement. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to the sport, there's no denying the allure and beauty of artistic swimming.

For more information, visit the official Olympics website.

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