Synchronised Swimming: Poetry in Motion

Beautiful
female bodies gliding effortlessly through the water in time to music gives the
impression that synchronised swimming is an easy aquatic sport. Don’t be
fooled. It is fun, it is feminine, but it requires strength, flexibility,
endurance and exceptional breath control.

Synchronised
swimming, or synchro, is one of the few sporting disciplines to be contested
only by women – the others are rhythmic gym and softball. Originating as water
ballet in Canada
in the early 20^th century, synchro became a full medal Olympic sport
in 1984. Closer to home, Elaine Buck is credited with starting the sport in
South Africa when she was requested to put on a water ballet for the 1954
Centenary celebrations of Durban as a city, using 50 bathing beauties in black
velvet bathing suits!

In
recent years, the hard work and discipline of the Russian synchro swimmers has
rubbed off on the sport worldwide, and the standard of training, and difficulty
of figures, has increased commensurately.

South
Africa’s (KZN) Duet swimmers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne,
Durban twins, Derryn and Kendra Semple, are prime examples of how hard work and
effort can take you to the top. Old girls of Maris Stella and Durban Girls
College, [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][they went to
different high schools], as coaches to the KZN synchro team, they are well
poised to give advice to aspirant young synchro swimmers.

"Little
girls as young as five can start synchro, but they must be confident swimmers
or else they are wasting their time", says Derryn. Kendra adds that "in the
first few lessons, we teach water awareness and floating, then we move onto
basic propulsion techniques, known as sculls, followed by basic positions,
known as figures. Once the girls have mastered these, they are ready to make up
a routine to music."

Both
girls agree that ideally a girl interested in taking up synchro should have
musicality and flexibility. Exposure to a dance form is also an asset.

There
are five different age groups – 10 and under, 12 and under, 13 to 15, 16 to 18
and Open. The figures taught to each age group have great marine names such as
barracuda, porpoise, prawn and swordfish. There is even a beluga, like the
caviar, but then synchronised swimmers are a rare and special breed of athlete!

These
figures are done in progressively more difficult ways as the girls move through
the age groups. For example, a flamingo bent knee in the 13 to 15 age group
becomes a flamingo bent knee spin up 180′ in the Open division. Figures need to
be perfected as they form the basis for selection of teams as well as needing
to be part of the routines performed to music.

However,
there are no pure figure competitions in the Olympics, World Champs and
Commonwealth Games and other international competitions, as the Open category
instead requires separate artistic and technical routines, performed to music.

Figures
are always done in a plain black costume, white cap and goggles, to enable the
judges to focus solely on the technical execution. The creative juices flow
when the girls work on their artistic routines, choosing music and designing a
suitably themed costume and hairpiece for their gelled back hair.

A
little known fact is that synchro swimmers are big users of gelatine which
doesn’t dissolve in the water like traditional hair gels would. That glossy wet
look is achieved with a thick gooey paste of gelatine painted on with a large
brush and allowed to dry to form a rock hard layer! 

 However,
a synchro swimmer’s most important piece of equipment is a nose clip, for
performing strenuous movements underwater while holding their breath for long
periods.

Although
waterproof makeup is applied to enhance the features, the nose area is avoided
so that the nose clip does not slide off. Underwater speakers enable the
swimmers to hear their music clearly under water, helping to achieve the split
second timing that is so crucial to synchro.

Since
synchro swimmers may not touch the bottom of the pool, FINA requirements are a
3 metre deep pool. Anyone reading this who is involved in designing an aquatic
centre, please bear this in mind, as there are very few pools in South Africa
that meet this requirement of a 3 metre depth. For example, in KZN, only Kings Park
outdoor pool conforms.

So
next time you watch synchro on your television, know that the girls are not
holding their team member aloft whilst standing on a secure pool floor – they
are all "egg beating" like crazy to stay above water level and give the
necessary boost to the girl performing the somersault or aerial move!

Youngsters
interested in taking up synchro can join a club for group coaching or pay for
private coaching. Some schools also offer synchro as a school sport and this
would be a good way to start off . The main synchro provinces are: KZN, Western Cape, Eastern Cape
and Gauteng
all of which have various clubs available for keen youngsters to join. Contact
details for each of these provinces are provided below.

As
an affiliated sport of Swimming South Africa, synchro swimmers compete
throughout the year at club, school, national and international level in the
following competitions run under Fina regulations: Provincial Champs in
February, USSASA Interprovincial Primary and High Schools Competitions in
March, SA Senior National Aquatics Champs in April, Johan Terblanche Gala in
October, Provincial Inter-schools Competitions in March, National Clubs Age
Group competition in December, Comen Cup mid year in Europe, the World Cup and
Commonwealth Games usually mid year in the years they are held.

The
2007 Primary Schools competition was featured on Supersport 1 and the Senior
Nationals on Telkom Splash.

The
provinces take turns hosting the SA competitions and dedicated members of the
synchronised swimming clubs around the country manage, administrate, judge and
score. To enter competitions, synchro swimmers have to become members of their
provincial Aquatics organization, as do divers, swimmers and water polo
players.

Entrants
all have to compete in the figures section of each competition, but can choose
to perform one or all of the following artistic routines: solo, duet, trio,
team and combo. A combo is not the latest fast food meal from your local
hamburger outlet, but stands for "free combination routine" where a group of
swimmers perform a series of group, trio, duet and solo routines to one arrangement
of music – guaranteed to be more fulfilling to experience than a hamburger on
an empty stomach.

Many
members of the synchro community provide coaching and facilities to the
development of synchro amongst previously disadvantaged communities. One such
person is Sushie Singh of Ottos Swimming Club in Durban,
who ferries children to the Kings Park pool in her own vehicle so they can avail
themselves of regular free coaching at the Kings Park
pool by synchro legend, Barbara Dowell. Sushie who is head of department of her
school, Springfield Model Primary, also accompanies the Primary schools team to
the inter provincial schools competitions as their manager.

The
more advanced synchro swimmers regularly demonstrate the sport to previously
disadvantaged youngsters to encourage them to take up synchro. One of the
obstacles to teaching synchro to these children is that they have to become
competent swimmers before they can consider learning synchro. The Swimming
South Africa Learn to Swim campaign is going some way towards addressing this
stumbling block.

Fifteen
year old Tashnie Reddi, who started as an Otto’s swimmer, then learnt synchro
initially with Otto’s synchro coach, Helen Ibbbetson, was identified as having
potential, so joined the larger KZN synchro club, Cygnus. Tashni recently
picked up the bronze medal in the KZN Champs this year, then went on to achieve
4^th place in the National intermediate figures and 5^th in
the National intermediate solo routines. 

Tashnie
was also in the KZN Aquatics team which won the silver medal in the Junior
section of the National Aquatics Champs in April 2007. Tashnie has twice
represented South Africa
at the Comen Cup – 2004 and 2005 – and has the dedication and ability to reach
the top.

Although
both studying, the Semple twins spend many hours daily at the pool, working on
their own synchro training as well as coaching and holding fitness classes for
the many young girls who want to emulate these older role models. They
incorporate hip hop dance classes into their fitness routine, to break the
monotony of regular strength and flexibility sessions.

The
twins radiate good health and happiness and attribute their positive approach
to life to the fact that they enjoy their sport so much "Synchro is a lifestyle
– it’s not just about achieving in competitions – it helps us lead a fit,
healthy life of regular exercise, being out in the fresh air and sunshine,
playing our music, having fun with our synchro friends."

Their
friend and fellow Commonwealth Games synchro swimmer, Shannon Crowder, is
presently on a synchronised swimming scholarship in America, so synchro also gives
swimmers the opportunity to study overseas.

Derryn
and Kendra’s comment to any young girls who want to start synchro is: "Most
importantly to have fun – it’s a great way to get fit, combines gym, dance and
swimming, and you get to meet other girls from all over South Africa."

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