Synchronized swimming is known as water ballet. This sports began in Canada in the 1920s. It spreads to United States, where a display at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair drew rave reviews. The popularity of the sports soared even higher when Esther Williams performed in a string of MGM “aqua musicals” in the 1940s and in the ’50s.
From 1948 to 1968,synchronized swimming emerged as an exhibition sport at the Olympic Games and debuted as a full medal sport in Los Angeles in 1984. It is open only to women, with medals offered in two events: duet and team.
Competition for both events consists of a technical routine and free routine, each performed to music in a time limit. In the technical routine, swimmers perform specific moves in a set order, including boosts, rockets, axes and twirls. In the free routine there are no restrictions on music or choreography. Judges of each routine look for a high degree of difficulty and risk, flawless execution, innovative choreography and seemingly effort performance.