Synchronized swimming is known for its beauty and the amazing visual performance the athletes perform.
It was originally called water ballet because of its grace, but had its name changed because it is so much more than ballet.
Synchronized swimming is, “a blend of meticulously coordinated acrobatics, swimming, and dance. Synchro requires tremendous grace, core strength, flexibility, breath control, split-second timing, and endurance. Don’t be deceived by the glitzy performance and lipsticked smiles on the athletes’ faces — this sport is anything but easy.”
Water Ballet became popular in America during the late 19th Century, but became popular worldwide during the 1930s. It was not until 1984 that Synchronized Swimming became a sport in the Summer Olympics. Since this time many countries have a national team. One of these national teams that is known for their talented performances is China.
Team China performs breathtaking routines because their of their ability to tell a story throughout their routine.
Aspiring Chinese synchronized swimmers that have potential have the chance to be on the national team through training at specific boarding schools.
This is helpful in creating a team spirit but training and living together for years.
The Chinese team is known for performing, “typically ambitious, dramatic stories, as their best programmes were like the performance for the music of Alice in Wonderland or the Phantom of the Opera. Besides well known tracks, they often go back to the basics and use the motives and stories of ancient Chinese music and history.”
Team China performed a routine at the FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) Championship. All teams have the ability to perform ten seconds on the deck of the pool before performing their routine in the water. Team China did not pass up this opportunity and came out in golden capes.
The athletes look stunning in their moves outside of the water, it is not shocking it only gets better once they dive into the pool.
Synchronized swimmers are never supposed to touch the bottom of the pool. So, when the team starts their routine in the water with a girl flipping out of the water it shows their great strength.
This team is starting their routine off with a bang!
After the initial jump, the team starts a section of their performance fully upside down. They are unable to see their movements, since all their heads are under the water, but they still perform perfectly in sync with each other. That is talent!
All their toes are pointed perfectly, and they are all moving as one.
It must take skill and practice to be able to hold their breath under the water for such a long time, while performing perfectly at the same time. The team finally comes up for a breath, but it is not long before they are right back in their routine. The team can lift themselves out of the water very high, by their strength alone.
The routine is quick and sharp, there is no time for mistakes!
Team China ends their performance like they started it, with a very impressive lift of one girl to be completely out of the water.
Then they end the lift and go straight into going upside and creating amazing choreography with their feet and legs.
The routine was uploaded to the internet and has been viewed over 4 million times. Watch the full performance for yourself right below.
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