Back to top Synchro Facts Synchronized swimming is a sport combining strength and flexibility, aerobic conditioning, musical interpretation, dramatic showmanship and close teamwork. Powerful swimming is combined with close choreography to create synchronized routines. Routines are designed to appear effortless, but consist of strenuous swimming. They last from 3 to 5 minutes, often with swimmers holding their breath for lengths of time up to 30 seconds.
Swimmers demonstrate their grace and appeal to the audience as they move through complex patterns.
They combine the power of a boxer, the flexibility of a gymnast, the artistic expression of a ballerina, and the aerobic conditioning of a distance runner with synchronization unseen in any other sport. The stunning, gold medal performance of the US team in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games has intensified interest in this unique team sport. 60 percent of a routine is spent underwater. U.S. team members practice 6-8 hours a day, six days a week. During a competition, swimmers aren't allowed to touch the bottom of the pool.