Artistic Swimming

Artistic swimming routines consist of a variety of moves including 'figures' (leg movements), arm sections, and lifts (also known as highlights). Swimmers must not touch the bottom of the pool and scull or use advanced methods of treading water to avoid doing so. They must also not be out of the water for more than 10 seconds.

There are two types of routines - free routines and technical routines where a number of specified elements must be performed.

What are the different types of Synchronised Swimming?

There are several disciplines in artistic swimming with women contesting the vast majority of them. As well as the Olympic events of women's duets and teams (combining free and technical routines), there are solos (men and women), mixed duets, mixed team and women's acrobatic.

Artistic Swimming and the Olympics

Synchronised swimming was a demonstration sport at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, but did not become a full Olympic sport until Los Angeles 1984 when medals were awarded in women's duet and women's solo.

The women's team event was introduced at Atlanta 1996 at the expense of the other two synchro disciplines but, from Sydney 2000 onwards, there have been team and duet competitions.

Tokyo 2020 in 2021 was the first Games where the sport was known as artistic swimming.

Men will be able to compete in artistic swimming for the first time at Paris 2024 with up to two permitted per NOC in the eight-person team event.

New Zealand Athletes

New Zealand have only had artistic swimming at two Olympic Games: Los Angeles 1984 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and we are looking forward to the duet at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The first athletes were Katie Sadleir OLY#497 and Lynette Sadleir OLY#498 who competed at Los Angeles 1984 in both the solo and duet events.