Are men allowed to compete in Olympic artistic swimming?

For the first time in Olympic history, male athletes were eligible to compete in artistic swimming at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Artistic swimming – you may also know it as synchronized swimming – as been an Olympic sport since 1984. However, it has traditionally been an all-female event. This year was set to break new ground, however, by allowing men to compete alongside women in this elegant and physically demanding discipline. You may have noticed I said ‘was set to’.

Why no men in 2024 Paris Olympics artistic swimming

Men have been, ahem, making waves in artistic swimming at lower levels for years. They have been permitted to participate in the World Aquatics Championships since 2015, and their performances have been impressive. In 2022, World Aquatics officially announced that men would be eligible to comPete in the Olympic artistic swimming events, so focus turned to the 2024 Games. This historic decision allowed each country to include up to two male swimmers in their eight-athlete teams.

Despite this progressive move, the 96 athletes chosen from 18 countries for the 2024 Olympics were all women. So the likes of Giorgio Minisini from Italy and Bill May of the United States, both seen as potential pioneers for this groundbreaking inclusion, were left watching from the sidelines.

“This should have been a landmark moment for the sport,” World Aquatics lamented in a statement released in June. The organization emphasised the need for the artistic swimming community to intensify their efforts to create more opportunities for male athletes. It seems the world of artistic swimming is still navigating its way through uncharted waters when it comes to gender inclusion.

What could men bring to artistic swimming?

The sport, known for its intricate choreography, strength, and grace, demands an extraordinary level of athleticism and creativity. Yet, it appears that some traditional barriers remain stubbornly in place. The hope was that the presence of male athletes would add a new dimension to the performances and encourage broader participation in the sport.

One can’t help but wonder what might have been if men had competed in Paris this summer. Would their routines have introduced new styles and techniques? Could their inclusion have sparked a renaissance for artistic swimming, drawing more fans and athletes to the sport? For now, these questions remain unanswered. But the water dancers will continue regardless.