Olympic Synchronised Swimming Rules and Judging

Synchronised Swimming is a women’s sport in Olympic and is also known as water ballet or pattern swimming. Synchronised Swimming is a woman’s only sport at the Olympic level, was an exhibition sport at the Olympic Games from 1948 to 1968, then became a full-fledged Summer Olympic sport in 1984. At the 1984, 1988, and 1992 games there were solo and duet events. In 1996, only a team event was held. Since 2000, a team event and a duet event have been held. Synchronised Swimming is governed internationally by FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation).

For Olympic competition, the pool must measure at least 20ms by 30m with an area 12m by 12m which is at least 3m deep. The bottom of the pool must be visible to aid in judging synchronization. Marks on the pool’s bottom aid swimmers in maintaining synchronisation.

The format for judging these routines is similar to gymnastics and diving. Ten judges score performances 0-10, focusing on their execution, synchronisation, and difficulty in technical merit. Execution covers strokes and other propulsion techniques and the precision of patterns. Movements should be smooth and effortless and swimmers should be high in the water. The highest and lowest scores are thrown out and the technical merit scores are weighed at 60% of the total score. From there the total scores from the free routine and the technical routine are weighed 65 and 35% respectively. It is from this score that the winner is determined.

The form of swimmers in maintaining patterns and strokes should not deteriorate as the routine progresses. Synchronisation looks at how “in tune” the swimmers are in body positions, movements and transitions. Synchronisation must be maintained above and below the water line.

Levels of difficulty are determined by the demands the routine places on the strength and technical proficiency of swimmers. As in gymnastics and figure skating, swimmers are rewarded for performing difficult tasks well. Judges assessing artistic impression examine the "look and feel" of routines. They judge the creativity of the choreography, the aesthetics of patterns, the fluidity of movements and transitions and the effect the music has on the mood of the performance.

When the judges have recorded their scores, the highest and lowest on each panel are discarded and the other three are averaged out. Because technical merit is considered more important that artistic impression, the technical average is then multiplied by six and the artistic by four. The scores are then added to give a final score for the routine. Similarly, the free routine is considered more important than the technical.

Penalties can be applied by the judges. In the most serious cases, a two-point penalty is applied, for example, if a swimmer deliberately touches the bottom of the pool to help her or a team-member. Two points are also deducted if a technical routine does not include one of the prescribed elements. A half-a-point penalty is incurred if one part of an element is missing. Lesser offences like missing timing on deckwork or routines draw a one-point penalty. If a swimmer voluntarily stops swimming during a routine, the team or duet is disqualified. If two teams’ scores cannot be separated down to three decimal points, a tie is declared.

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