About Our Sport
Artistic (synchronized) swimming athletes have the power of a water polo player, the endurance of a long-distance runner, the strength of a gymnast, and the grace and elegance of a dancer. Swimmers learn to synchronize their movements with their teammates and to music. They are able to execute inverted, gymnastics-like movements while holding their breath underwater. They do this in an unstable environment, never touching the bottom of the pool!
Artistic swimming is simultaneously graceful and physically challenging. It is a demanding sport presented as a beautiful art form. Artistic swimming is a fun sport which combines swimming, dance and gymnastics. Athletes perform routines which are accompanied by music. Athletes require strength, endurance, flexibility, grace, artistry, precise timing, and good breath control, when upside down in the water! Teams comprise four to ten swimmers of a similar age, and ability range. Swimmers have the option to train solos or duets, if desired.
Artistic swimmers train on land to develop the skills needed for coordination and agility in the water. Land training enhances the artistic swimmer’s cardiovascular capacity and endurance. Artistic Swimming is holistic training, incorporating Some of these many activities into one! Diving, gymnastics, acrobatics, speed swimming, musical development, acting, yoga…artistic swimming incorporates them all! Artistic swimming performances are judged on execution, artistic impression and difficulty of each of the elements of the routine. Athletes also compete individually in front of a panel of judges to perform figures at every competition.
Our Programs
Our AquaGO! Recreational Program is designed as an introduction to the sport. Not only does the program include artistic swimming, but also swimming lessons, fundamental movement skills on land and in the water, and an introduction to flexibility. For more information on this part of our program follow the link to our AquaGO! information page.
For athletes that love the sport and want to pursue it beyond the basics, Thunder Bay Artistic Swimming offers competitive stream programs with beginner to advanced levels. For more information on competitive programs, follow the link below.