Synchronised Swimming

At the London 2012 Games, the Synchronised Swimming is all about grace under pressure, as swimmers use pinpoint precision and immense stamina to deliver beautiful routines in the pool.

Key facts

Venue: Aquatics Centre – Olympic Park
Dates: Sunday 5 – Friday 10 August
Medal events: 2
Athletes: 104 (all women)

Synchronised Swimming grew out of the ornamental water ballets of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which became popular in Europe and the US thanks to pioneers such as Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman. The first competitions were held in the 1930s, five decades before the sport made its Olympic debut in 1984.

The basics

Although it looks deceptively graceful from the pool side, Synchronised Swimming is an extremely demanding sport calling for great strength, amazing levels of endurance and exceptional flexibility. Swimmers use nose clips to help them stay underwater for longer, but the sport still requires tremendous breath control.

Aided by underwater speakers, pairs of swimmers or teams of eight perform short routines to a musical accompaniment. Judges mark a variety of components during the course of a routine, including choreography, difficulty and execution.

Olympic Synchronised Swimming, past and present

Synchronised Swimming became an Olympic sport at the Los Angeles 1984 Games, with solo and duet events. At London 2012, the Synchronised Swimming competition will take place at the dazzling new Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park, designed by acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid and built especially for the Games.

Synchronised Swimming
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