Swimmers require incredible strength, flexibility, grace, artistry and long underwater endurance to participate in synchronised swimming. Underwater speakers transmit the music into the pool, helping the swimmers keep their synchronisation and choreography while underwater.
Many would be surprised to learn that synchronised swimming, or synchro as it is commonly known, has Australian origins. At the turn of the 20th century Annette Kellerman, an Australian swimmer, toured the United States performing water acrobatics. Her shows proved very popular and a sport was born. Despite its origin however, the sport has not brought in the medals for Australia.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Australia qualified a team for the first time at an away Games, finishing seventh. The duet of Erika Leal-Ramirez and Myriam Glez also competed, finishing 21st.
SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING EVENTS
There are two events on the Olympic synchronised swimming program: team and duet.
- Team
There are 8 teams in the 2012 Olympic competition: Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, Spain, Great Britain, Japan & Russia.
In the team competition, nine athletes perform a technical routine followed by a free routine. The technical routine requires the execution of nine elements in the time limit of 2 minutes, 50 seconds. Teams can perform to the music of their choice. The free routine is performed in a time limit of 4 minutes, and teams can perform a routine of their choice. Choice of music, content and choreography is unrestricted. The scores from each routine are combined to determine the final rankings.
- Duet
Eloise Amberger and Sarah Bombell will compete in the duet as well as the team event. There are 24 duets in total. To see the list of competing countries, click here>>>
Duets must also perform a technical and free routine, however a preliminary round of both narrows the field to 12 pairs. In the final round, athletes perform their free routine again. The result is combined with the score from the technical routine in the preliminary round to determine the team's final ranking.
In the preliminary round technical routine, duets must complete eight elements in the time limit of 2 minutes, 20 seconds. Duets can perform to the music of their choice. The score from the technical routine accounts for 50 percent of their preliminary score, and 50 percent of their final score if in the top 12.
For the free routine, swimmers perform any combination to music of their choice in a time limit of 3 minutes, 30 seconds.
For the final 12, duets generally execute the same routine as done in the preliminary round.
QUALIFICATION AND SELECTION
Australia qualified a team and duet for London by finishing the highest ranked nation from Oceania at the 2011 FINA World Championships.
- Team Qualification
Eight teams will qualify for the Team Competition. The best ranked National Olympic Committee (NOC) at each of the five Continental Championships will obtain a quota place. The host country will be the representative of the European continent. Three best ranked NOCs will qualify at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
- Duet Qualification
The best ranked NOC at each of the five Continental Championships will obtain a quota place. Eight NOCs which have qualified a Team will obtain a quota place for a duet. The next best ranked duets from the Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament, not yet qualified, will qualify until the overall maximum number of 24 is reached.
For all the Nomination and Selection documentation click here>>>
AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC HISTORY
Donella Burridge represented Australia when synchronised swimming debuted at the Los Angeles Games in 1984 and placed 12th in the solo event. At the Sydney Games Australia qualified a team as host nation and placed eighth.
To read more about Australia’s Olympic synchronised swimming history click here>>>