In my  opinion synchronized swimming is a very elegant sport. I enjoy watching it every four years during the summer Olympics.  Unfortunately this isn’t a popular enough sport in the United States for synchronized swimming to be on TV very much other than during the Olympics.  To stick with our theme of the Olympics during these few weeks while the Games are going on, today I would like to look more closely at this elegant sport which is in the aquatic* sports category of Olympic Games.  First, I would like to highlight what the word ‘synchronized’ means and emphasize that this word is used commonly in English in other contexts, i.e. ‘Let’s synchronize our watches.’  It also has an abbreviated for, sync, which people often use, i.e. ‘How to I sync my phone to the current time?’

synchronize(d) (verb/past participle) – to cause to occur at the same time; to occur at the same time

Interestingly synchronize swimming began as a sport for men in the 1800s, but is now considered a primarily female sport.  Synchronized swimming competitions were held starting as early as the 1930s in Europe and the United States, but this sport did not become an Olympic event until 1984.  It is now one of only two disciplines on today’s Olympics in which there are only female competitors (the other sport in which there are only females is rhythmic gymnastics).  Synchronized swimming is a water sport in which teams of eight swimmers perform short routines to a musical (there are underwater speakers for the competitors so that they can hear the music while swimming).  Judges look for a variety of components** during the swimming routines, including: choreography*** and difficulty of moves.  Although this sport looks graceful and calm to the pool side spectator****, synchronized swimming is a very demanding and difficult sport.  To perform well competitors need to exhibit strength, endurance, flexibility, and good timing, not to mention breath control.  Synchronized swimmers use nose clips to keep water from going in their noses as they move underwater, but they are also working very hard on controlling their breathing so they can stay underwater for long periods of time.

Here are some terms that are used commonly in this sport (but are otherwise not common terms in English):
back layout – a position in which the swimmer holds herself flat and face up on the water’s surface while moving her hands quickly to stay afloat (like in the picture above)
deckwork – the initial movements of choreography that are performed by swimmers after the music starts but before they enter the water
eggbeater – a powerful way of treading water that allows the swimmer to perform arm movements while staying afloat

*aquatic = of or relating to water
**components = a part or element of a larger whole
***choreography = the sequence of movements in dance
****spectator = a person who watches a show, game, or other event