Before becoming an Olympic sport, Synchronized Swimming was, literally, a something from the movies. Starting as acrobatic aquatic shows presented in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century by Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman, the sport was developed by Katherine Curtis by associating routines performed by swimmers in water and music. The practice reached MGM studio musicals starred by Esther Williams during the 1940s and 1950s. After a presentation of Katherine Curtis’ students at the Chicago World Fair, in Chicago, United States, in 1933 and 1934, Olympic swimmer Norman Ross created the term “synchronized swimming.” The discipline’s current format was developed during that same period by American student Frank Havlicek. It is an Olympic sport limited to women, who compete in solos, duets or eight-member teams, performing mandatory and free routines in the pool and who are evaluated by a jury in technique and creativity. Unlike the other aquatic sports, its first competition in Pan American Games was only held in 1955.


International Federation: www.fina.org


Competition Period: 25 to 28 July