Introduction: Artistic swimming

CNN:- Today marks the start of artistic
swimming at the 2024 Paris Olympics,
bringing a big change compared to the previous games,

men can compete for the first time.
According to the rule changes announced by the
International Olympic Committee in December 2022,

maximum of two men can compete

a maximum of two men can compete in the eight-competitor
team event, but not in the two-competitor pairs event.
However, even the most attentive observer will not

notice the change, since not a single person was
selected among the 96 athletes from 18 countries.
Artistic swimming, known as synchronized

swimming before a name change in 2017,
has a long and complicated history when
it comes to male participation.

The sport was popularized in the United
States in the first half of the 20th century,
and in its early years, men played an established role.

However, it later emerged that the male
competitors were unsuited to the sport due
to certain physical characteristics. They weigh more,

have more difficulty opening

are less flexible, have more difficulty opening their
legs and have less buoyancy than their female competitors.
When artistic swimming was first added to the Olympics in 1984,

only women could compete.
And this situation has existed for 40 years.
American swimmer Bill May, 45,

had hoped to finally realize his Olympic dream in Paris,
but ultimately was not selected for the U.S.
team announced in June.

The eight women selected will also take part
in an acrobatic performance, a new event added to this
year’s program alongside the technical and free program.

Another change is an update to the points system,
which awards points based on performance.
And an artistic impression

In order for judges to assign a difficulty level,
coaches must hand over a card with the usual information.
Players will be flagged if they don’t

match the normal map or if there is an error.
According to the Olympic website,
with a total of six medals won, China is

one of the gold contenders in both duets and team
events after becoming the “dominant power” in recent years.
Japan, the USA, Spain and Ukraine have also

been named as teams to watch,
while Mexico will make its Olympic debut in artistic swimming.
The competition will take place from August 5 to 10,
the team competition on August 7, and the duet medal days on August 10.