Artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, fascinates viewers with its combination of elegance and technical prowess. Behind the smiles and fluid movements lie years of training to master figures of dizzying complexity.
What are the most technically demanding figures in artistic swimming?
The difficulty of a figure in artistic swimming rests on several factors: height out of the water, number of rotations, maintaining unstable positions, and perfect synchronization. The barracuda is probably the iconic figure that the general public recognizes, but professional swimmers face much more complex challenges.
The “London” represents one of the figures most feared by athletes. This figure starts with a flamingo (leg bent at a right angle at the surface), followed by a complete rotation while maintaining this position, ending with an aerial split. The major difficulty lies in maintaining height out of the water throughout the execution.
The “Knight” requires exceptional strength and perfect breath control. The swimmer must perform a vertical rise with legs apart, then execute a 360° rotation while changing the position of the legs to finish in a vertical position. This figure often receives one of the highest difficulty coefficients in competition.
The inverted Eiffel Tower demands remarkable coordination and power. The swimmer must maintain her legs vertically out of the water, then perform a controlled descent while turning 180°, finishing with an explosive upward thrust. The best athletes manage to keep their legs perfectly aligned throughout the sequence.
How athletes prepare these complex artistic swimming figures
Preparing high-difficulty figures requires specific and methodical training. Swimmers dedicate daily hours to developing their specific physical condition to perfect each movement.
Out-of-water training constitutes an essential part of preparation. Swimmers develop:
- Exceptional abdominal strength allowing body stabilization during inverted positions
- Extreme flexibility for splits and arched positions
- Cardio-respiratory endurance to maintain effort while holding their breath
- Neuromuscular coordination to synchronize movements with music and partners
In the water, training sessions focus on breaking down each figure into simple elements before assembling them. A swimmer may repeat the same movement hundreds of times to achieve technical perfection.
Visualization also plays a crucial role. Athletes use this technique to memorize correct bodily sensations and anticipate difficulties. Some national teams systematically film training sessions to analyze movements in slow motion and correct imperfections.
What about hybrid figures?
Are so-called hybrid artistic swimming figures really the future of synchronized swimming? The discipline is constantly evolving, and hybrid figures represent a new frontier of complexity. These innovative combinations mix several traditional figures to create spectacular sequences never seen before.
The “Cyclone” combines a vertical spin with a propulsion phase and an exit in a split. This figure requires perfect coordination between rotation, thrust, and control of the final position.
The “Rockets” are successive vertical propulsions where the athlete emerges almost entirely from the water several times in a row. The difficulty lies in maintaining energy and vertical height throughout the sequence. Technical innovation is an integral part of this sport’s evolution. Coaches and swimmers constantly push the limits by creating more complex variations of existing figures.
What are the evaluation criteria for technical figures in competition?
In official competition, judges evaluate figures according to precise criteria, which determine the final score. Height out of the water remains the most spectacular and valued element.
The clarity of positions plays a fundamental role. Each angle must be perfectly defined, legs straight, feet pointed. The slightest flexion or misalignment results in significant deductions.
Control of movement throughout the execution distinguishes the best swimmers. Transitions between positions must appear fluid and without apparent effort, despite the actual physical intensity.
Spatial precision also counts in the evaluation. The figure must be executed exactly at the same spot in the pool, without drift or involuntary displacement.
Artistic swimming represents a permanent technical challenge where the pursuit of perfection mixes with artistic expression. The most complex figures, the fruit of years of intensive training, continue to fascinate spectators and practitioners with their beauty and seemingly insurmountable difficulty.
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