London 2012 Synchronized Swimming Basics

Saturday 4 August 2012

London 2012 Synchronized Swimming Basics | History of Synchronized Swimming

In the coursework of routines, swimmers perform dance & acrobatic movements to music, & are not allowed to touch the bottom of the pool at any point. Wearing make-up on their faces & gelatin in their hair, they also use nose-clips to help them breathe. Special underwater speakers are used so the swimmers can keep count in their method at all times.

Originally called "water ballet," synchronized swimming made its first Olympic appearance at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Seemingly effortless, synchronized swimmers must exhibit strength, endurance, flexibility & breath control, all while keeping a smirk on their faces.

There's events in synchronized swimming: duet & team, & both events include a technical & free method.

Team Work:
Eight nations will compete in the team event at the 2012 Games. Team competition consists of nine athletes performing a technical technique together followed by a free technique. The scores from each technique are combined to choose the final rankings.

Duet:
There will be 24 nations competing in the duet event at the London Olympics. Like the team event, duets must perform both a technical & free technique, however a preliminary round of both narrows the field to 12 duets. In the final round, athletes must perform their free technique again, the result of which will be combined with the score from the technical technique in the preliminary round to select the team's final rating.

Technical Routin:
The technical method focuses on how exactly athletes execute positive elements of the sport.

Duet
The first phase of the preliminary round, duets must execute eight necessary elements within the time limit of two minutes, twenty seconds. Duets can perform to the music of their choice. The score from the technical process accounts for 50 percent of their preliminary score, & in the event that they advance, 50 percent of their final score.

Team
A technical process requires the execution of nine need elements within the time limit of two minutes, 50 seconds. Teams can perform to the music of their choice. The score from the technical process accounts for 50 percent o the general rating.

Free Method:
The free method highlights the artistic aspects of the sport, giving athletes the chance to take risks & be creative with compositions.

Duet
With a time limit of three minutes, 30 seconds, duets can perform any listed figures and/or strokes to the music of their choice. Duets usually present the same method for the final as they do in the preliminary round.

Team
With a time limit of minutes, teams can perform a composition of their choice. They are not restricted in terms of music, content or choreography. The free method accounts for 50 percent of the final rankings.