From Water Ballet to Artistic Swimming

Artistic swimming started life as water ballet. Swimmers performed routines to music, pointing their toes and holding positions borrowed from dance, and one of the sport's basic figures is still called the ballet leg. Today it's an Olympic sport, and since Paris 2024 men can compete in the team event.

From the stage to the Olympics

In 1907 the Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman performed in a glass tank at the New York Hippodrome and became known as the first underwater ballerina (USA Artistic Swimming). Water shows grew through the early 20th century, and Hollywood films starring the swimmer Esther Williams made water ballet famous in the 1940s and 1950s.

As a competitive sport it became known as synchronised swimming and joined the Olympics at Los Angeles 1984. Its international federation renamed it artistic swimming in 2017. At Paris 2024, teams of eight could include up to two men for the first time.

What it shares with ballet

• The ballet leg. Floating on the back, the swimmer raises one straight leg to vertical, toes pointed. It's one of the early figures in Swim England's grades.

• Pointed feet and straight lines. Toes must be pointed in every element, the same line ballet trains at the barre.

• Music and choreography. Routines are set to music and scored partly on artistic impression.

Trying it in Ireland

Swim Ireland governs artistic swimming on the island of Ireland and is working to grow the sport, with sessions at a number of pools. Its club finder is the place to look for a club near you. Swimmers need to be confident in deep water, and a background in ballet or gymnastics helps with the lines and flexibility.

Curious about ballet itself? Start with what is ballet?, or read is ballet a sport?.