Olympics to introduce men’s artistic swimming for first time in games’ history – National | 24CA News
Snicker if you want. Guffaw for good measure. Bill May and different male synchronized swimmers — now known as inventive swimmers — have heard the putdowns earlier than.
But they’re getting the final chuckle.
Men have competed in synchro on the decrease ranges for many years. Now they’re being included within the Olympics, that means subsequent yr’s Summer Games in Paris.
“I think it’s a huge opportunity for the sport to grow and attract more men,” May instructed the Associated Press on the World Aquatics Championships. “By keeping men out you’re limiting the sport. By including men you’re going to see an upshift in the popularity and the numbers.”
May appears like a lean bodybuilder. He was among the many first males to compete when synchro was included within the worlds for the primary time in 2015. And he labored for 17 years at Cirque du Soleil doing water-themed exhibits. He has come out of aggressive retirement for an opportunity to compete on the Olympics.
“There has always been that misconception that it’s a female-only sport, or that it’s for wimps, or that it’s not a difficult sport,” the 44-year-old May stated. “Anyone that has anything negative to say about the sport — boy, female, anyone. Just try it and you’ll know it’s the most difficult sport in the world.”
This isn’t the synchronized swimming that your dad and mom or grandparents watched — the water ballet that made few waves under the flowery rubber caps and everlasting smiles, It’s estranged from the game launched on the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
The acrobatic group occasion, particularly, options lifts, throws and flips, and diving routines launched off the shoulders of teammates treading water under. It’s gymnastics on water and concussions are a threat.
Interested males usually confront the stereotypes.
Beginning in elementary college, 18-year-old American Kenny Gaudet dreamed of being a synchronized swimmer. He made it, however it wasn’t simple.
“It makes me emotional just to think about the problems we all went through and the struggles we all had just to get a chance to swim and do what we love,” stated Gaudet who competed at this yr’s worlds.
“So much bullying. So much slander. So much hate,” he added. “Just because of my gender, just because I’m a male in artistic swimming. When I first started I wanted to quit so many times. Growing up my peers would ask why I’m doing a female sport, why am I being like a girl and degrade me for doing what I love to do.”
One facet of Adam Andrasko’s job as the pinnacle of USA Artistic Swimming is recruiting males. He stated there are about 100 collaborating within the United States, up from 25 simply 4 years in the past.
“There hasn’t been a good foundation of growth,” Andrasko stated. “You haven’t had the farm system.”
Just a few international locations on the world championships have male swimmers together with the United States, Japan, Germany and China. Spain and Italy even have prime rivals.
“There aren’t a lot of countries with strong males,” within the worldwide competitors, Andrasko stated, noting males usually lack the pliability to compete. “So you might not see a lot of males swimming in the Olympics. I’m concerned it goes to the Olympic Games and we don’t see a male participating. I definitely have that fear.”
“To this point,” he added, “women are still far better at this sport than a man.”
Another concern, apparently unfounded, is that ladies would possibly resent the boys competing within the sport. Men will compete in solely group occasions on the Olympics. Teams have a most of eight members — with a restrict of two males — which implies males would possibly crowd out some ladies.
There isn’t any requirement for males to be included.
Asked about any acrimony, two-time American Olympian Anita Alvarez replied: “No, not at all.”
Alvarez has blacked out twice within the final two years whereas competing and needed to be resuscitated. She’s been cleared to compete with no analysis besides bodily or psychological exhaustion. Holding her breath for too lengthy underwater can also be suspected.
Men can add some physicality to routines, and their presence may result in a wider viewers. Alvarez additionally credit May with choreography expertise that he picked up with Cirque du Soleil.
“Having the inclusion of both males and females will make it more open for young boys and young girls to dream of being in the Olympics, parents wanting to start their kids,” Alvarez stated.
She ran off her exercise routine, certain to scare away women and men — equally.
“We’re training eight-plus hours a day, treading water all day,” she stated. “You have to be able to count time and work with music. You have to be able to watch your patterns and stay in line. We don’t wear goggles when we compete. You’re holding your breath. You don’t touch the bottom. There are so many elements that go into it that people don’t see.”
And we’re about to see extra males making an attempt it.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
