Back in Williamss days, it used to be called synchronized swimming.
The sports officialsrebranded the name to artistic swimmingin 2017 to better parallel its sister sport,artistic gymnastics.
People tend to think swimming is easy.
China News Service/Clive Rose/Maddie Meyer/MANAN VATSYAYANA/OLI SCARFF/Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Seriously: Theyre not allowed to touch the bottom of the pool.
Team USA competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Team USA competing at the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships.
Team USA competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The other thing that makes artistic swimming especially hardcore?
The athletes are underwater and unable to breathe for long periodssometimes fortwo full minutes.
Team USA coach Andrea Fuentes dives into the pool to rescue artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez.
Team USA competing at the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships.
For Ramirez, this reality is top of mind when shes underwater.
You cant feel your legs, your toes are going numb.
Its way scarier than people think, she explains.
Team USA coach Andrea Fuentes dives into the pool to rescue artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez.
Behind the scenes of any artistic swimming meet, were scared.
We have these smiles on, but were in pain.
And, as Presser adds, youve still got to make the whole shebang look flawless.
Its very mentally demanding.
Youre mapping out the routine.
Youre thinking about counts.
Its a very disciplined and very controlled sport.
Hearing this was a brutal reminder:Female athletes cannot fucking win.
The sexism female athletes face, no matter what they do, is frustratingly tangible.
*Steps down from soap box and deep breathes.
*
Is artistic swimming themost challenging Olympic sport?
Personally, its the event that makes me genuinely marvel at the physical potential of humans.
Throw your BFF several feet into the air without touching the bottom.
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