Back in the late 19th century, synchronized swimming was known under different names such as artistic, ornamental, scientific, figure or pattern swimming as well as water ballet, and the first "artistic swimmers" were male actors who staged dancing displays in water as a form of entertainment. The first record of competition was a men's event in Berlin in 1891. But by the turn of the century, women had moved toward the forefront of synchronised swimming.

The origins of synchronised swimming as we know it today are rooted in the swimming safety courses at the Royal Life Saving Society. In 1924, a group of Canadian women, led by national-calibre water polo player and diver Margaret "Peg" Seller, developed what they called "ornamental swimming" from lifesaving and swimming techniques. Within a year, rules were established and the first competitions were organized. The world's first provincial championship was held in Montreal where Seller was crowned champion. From that point, synchronised swimming's popularity continued to grow, especially in the United States.

International competitions would soon follow. Synchronised swimming was a demonstration sport at the 1951 Pan American Games in Buenos Aires and at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. FINA, the international federation for aquatic sports embraced synchronised swimming in 1954. It was featured at the inaugural World Swimming Championships in 1973 in Belgrade and was accepted into the official Olympic program as a woman's event in 1984.

Today's synchronised swimming events consist of duet and team events for women only. The duets compete in a preliminary phase, where they perform a technical routine and a free routine. The top 12 duets after the preliminary phase progress to the final, where they swim their free routine again. In the team event, there is no preliminary phase of competition. The eight teams go straight into a final competition where they perform a technical routine and a free routine.


Synchronised Swimming Equipment

Synchronised swimmers have often been mocked for wearing gelatine in their hair to hold it back, for wearing spray-painted-on makeup, and for their colourful, elaborate costumes. In fact, all of these elements are used for the benefit of the live, poolside audience and not for the televised audience.

The only essential piece of equipment for a synchronised swimmer is a nose clip. The nose clip is vital because it prevents water from entering the nose cavity during upside-down movements, and also allows the swimmer to stay underwater for long periods of time. Most swimmers wear another nose clip on their suit in case the one they're wearing falls off in competition.

There are also rules about image and costumes. Swimsuits must be "colourful and tasteful" and not cut too low in the front, or too high on the hips. Small head decorations are allowed, but nothing can be allowed to hang off or dangle.

For Olympic competition, the pool must be a minimum of 20 metres by 30 metres, and within that a 12-metre by 12-metre area must be at least 3 metres deep. The water temperature must be 26 degrees Celsius, plus or minus one degree. The water also must be clear enough for the bottom of the pool to be visible - to ensure their pattern placement is correct, synchronised swimmers use the lines on the bottom of the pool, and other markers, to maintain their bearings.

Small speakers under the surface of the water help the swimmers to hear the music. In the past, they would have one swimmer blow "raspberries" underwater to signal the others to change movement.