Synchronized Swimming

Synchronized Swimming

Synchronized Swimming is commonly seen in olympics. This sport is a hybrid of swimming, gymnastics, and dance. It may be performed either in solo, duets, trios, or teams. It is called synchromized swimming because it is performed in the water where the swimmers perform different routines that must be synchronized. It is also accompanied with music.

Women are mostly the ones who can join the competition. Olympics and World Championship do not allow men to join but some competitions like USA Synchro and Synchro Canadaallow men to compete against women.

There are a lot of different positions to create different routines. Some basic positions are the following (Source: Wikipedia)

• Back Layout: The most basic position. The body floats, completely straight and rigid, face-up on the surface while sculling at the sides.

• Front Layout: Much like a Back Layout, the only difference is that the swimmer is on his/her stomach.

• Sailboat/Bent Knee: Similar to the back layout, but one knee is bent with the toe touching the inside of the other leg, which remains parallel to the surface.

• Ballet Leg: Beginning in a back layout, one leg is extended and held perpendicular to the body, while the other is held parallel to the surface of the water.

• Flamingo: Similar to ballet leg position where bottom leg is pulled into the chest so that the shin of the bottom leg is touching the knee of the vertical leg.

• Vertical: Achieved by holding the body completely straight upside down and perpendicular to the surface usually with both legs entirely out of water.

• Crane: While holding a vertical body position, one leg remains vertical while the other is dropped parallel to the surface, making a 90-degree angle or "L" shape.

• Bent Knee: While holding a vertical body position, one leg remains vertical while the other leg bends so that its toe is touching the knee of the vertical leg.

• Split position: With the body vertical, one leg is stretched forward along the surface and the other extended back along the surface.

• Knight: The body is in a surface arch position, where the legs are flat on the surface, and the body is arched so that the head is vertically in line with the hips. One leg is lifted, creating a vertical line perpendicular to the surface.

• Side Fishtail: Side fishtail is a position similar to a crane. One leg remains vertical, while the other is extended out to the side parallel to the water, creating a side "Y" position.