Synchronised swimming is an amalgam of dance, swimming, and gymnastics and has been referred to as artistic swimming by international governing body FINA since 2017. Synchronised swimming is characterised by swimmers performing an elaborate, synchronised routine in water, accompanied by music. Here is a brief history of synchronised swimming.

First Known as Water Ballet

When the sport first originated it was known as water ballet and the first recorded competition was held in Berlin, Germany in 1891. The sport simultaneously developed in Canada around the same time and swimming clubs began forming across the world. It was often a popular addition to Music Hall evenings, particularly in London and Glasgow as these variety theatres were equipped with on-stage water tanks for this express purpose.

Popularisation by Annette Kellerman

In 1907, the sport became popularised by Australian Annette Kellerman when she performed in a glass tank in the New York Hippodrome as an underwater ballerina. This inspired Katherine Curtis to start one of the first water ballet clubs in the world at the University of Chicago, where the team began executing floating formations. On 27^th May 1939, the first United States synchronised swimming competition took place at Wright Junior College in Chicago.

The Kay Curtis Modern Mermaids

The Kay Curtis Modern Mermaids show was organised by Katherine Curtis for the 1933 and 1934 World Exhibitions in Chicago and it was here that announcer, Norman Ross, introduced the sport as synchronised swimming for the first time. Ross was clearly almost as innovative as real money deposit slots!

The world began to move away from referring to the sport as water ballet and the term synchronised swimming eventually became standardised through the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). However, Curtis still referred to this sport in which he had been so influential as “rhythmic swimming” in her 1936 book Rhythmic Swimming: A Source Book of Synchronised Swimming and Water Pageantry.

An Officially Recognised Sport

In December 1941, at the persuasion of Katherine Curtis, synchronised swimming became an officially recognised sport by the AAU. In 1943, Curtis relocated to Europe and served as the Recreational Director for the Red Cross under Generals Patton and Eisenhower. During this time, Curtis organised the first international aquacade in Italy. In 1959, both Curtis and Annette Kellerman were inducted into the Helms Hall of Fame and Curtis was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1979.

Synchronised Swimming Heads to the Olympics

The first Olympic demonstration of synchronised swimming was presented at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki where officials welcomed Katherine Curtis and lit a torch in her honour. Curtis passed away in 1980 and synchronised swimming did not become an official Olympic sport until the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.

In 1968, synchronised swimming became recognised as the 4^th water sport by FINA next to swimming, platform diving, and water polo. Solo and duet competitions featured at the Summer Olympic Games from 1984 through 1992, but both were dropped in 1996 in favour of the team competition. Since 2000, duet competitions have been restored at the Summer Olympic Games alongside the team competition.