Artistic Swimming: Art Underwater!

Hello, I’m Clara Camacho and today I’m here to tell you a bit about my sport (synchronized swimming, now known as artistic swimming). The sport that has helped me grow as a person and has brought me so much joy… Ahhh and of course, it has earned me so many victories and titles throughout my career!

Artistic Swimming is a super complete discipline that combines several fields like swimming, gymnastics, and dance.

Synchronized swimming is the name almost everyone knows it by, but nowadays it has changed its name and is now known as artistic swimming.
It is a super complete discipline that combines several fields like swimming, gymnastics, and dance. Artistic swimming is performed in the water (more specifically in a pool) with a series of synchronized movements to the rhythm of music.

As I was saying, it’s a sport almost everyone knows because it’s very visual and enjoyable to watch, but above all, to enjoy. Also, Spain is one of the “powerhouses” worldwide in this sport. But what few know is the amount of work behind a simple “dance.”

There are two different categories in synchronized swimming, and these are:

• Technical routines: Performed to the rhythm of the music and must include mandatory elements set by international regulations.
• Free routines: These routines are performed freely to the rhythm of the music and allow great freedom of movement.
• Exercises can be performed in duets, solo, teams, and free combination.

Currently, there is also a new discipline called Mixed Duet, a clear example of gender equality.

Currently, there is also a new discipline called mixed duet, where a boy and a girl swim together. So, little by little, the presence of men in this sport is becoming normalized, which years ago was somewhat frowned upon.
But I have to say that at international championships, when you see a routine like this with legs up in the air, you wouldn’t be able to tell which legs belong to the boy or the girl. It’s amazing! Definitely a clear example of gender equality.

Another curiosity I’m always asked: what do you put on your nose so water doesn’t get in?
Well, we use a special nose clip for swimming (also used by swimmers in some events) that prevents water from entering the nose when doing figures underwater, that is, when doing a “handstand.”

A little secret trick we swimmers have… In competitions, we usually carry 2-3 extra clips inside our swimsuit in case they fall off or get thrown away. That way, you can continue the routine normally if anything happens.

The last curiosity for today: how do we manage to hold our breath underwater for so long?
Easy question, by diving, diving, and diving more and more. We do dives of 50 meters, or 25 meters combining exercises to further tire the muscles. This type of training is the closest to performing a routine.

It’s something similar to the interval training explained in another article by Juan Pedro Mora. 😉

Have you all tried to do a handstand in the pool or lift a leg? Has anyone managed to do it with the leg straight and “pretty”?
Very difficult, right? That’s when you realize the daily hours of training this sport requires and with that comes the importance of improving recovery.

A performance involves a lot of work behind it.

Imagine training an average of 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. All this to finally perform a 3-minute choreography.
Along with that, it’s essential to have good rest, which is crucial. Another important part is nutrition (I’ll talk about this another day), the mind, and of course, recovery.

That’s where the importance of the presotherapy machine Sizen 6+ comes in, of which I’m lucky to be an ambassador and, above all, a user.

It’s interesting to learn about how presotherapy works.

Sizen is an essential part of my recovery, as presotherapy helps me keep my legs fresh and ready for the next session.

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to my sport… Now… Everyone in the water!