Before 1908, when the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) began to regulate aquatic events, the Olympic Games played host to a variety of unusual competitions, including underwater swimming, obstacle swimming, and plunge for distance. Before the waveless, temperature-controlled pools of today, competitions were held in the Mediterranean Sea, the Seine River, and a little lake in St. Louis. Now with unified regulations, Olympic Aquatics consist of four disciplines- diving, swimming, synchronized swimming, and water polo.

Synchronized swimming, originally known as ‘water ballet,’ debuted as an Olympic sport in 1984 after being developed in Canada in the 1900s. Opened only to women, the sport offers two events: duet and team. Competitions are performed to music and scoring is based on the execution of specific moves, the degree of difficulty and risk, innovative choreography, and a seemingly effortless performance. Synchronized swimming is practiced in more than 80 nations, many of whom are just developing their programs.

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