This is my second round at my article writing for project 7. I have changed mostly the second half, from the first version. If you ave the time or are simply interested, I would love your feedback! Thanks, hope you enjoy.

My heart is pounding; I try to breathe through my nose to check my nose clip. No air comes in or goes out. The moves speed through my head; an abridged version of the complicated 4:00 minute routine I will shortly be completing. I raise each knee to stretch, shake out my legs and arms as I check my nose clip again. A few of my teammates dance to the music playing in the background from the routine before us, as others drill our routine with small hand movements. Another stands quietly on the outskirts of our team circle. We each have our own way to stay calm before competing. It is practically our time to shine. We huddle for the pep talk from our coach; hugs all around. I check my nose clip. Take a gulp of water, for my throat that is now dry from nerves. We line up in the proper order as we have practiced so many times before. I check my nose clip one final time.

            “Five, six, seven…” In unison we roll our shoulders back to make sure we are standing up straight. “…Eight...” Our heads rise and move to a 45-degree angle, looking at the team sign we agreed on about half an hour before, during warm-up. “...One…” Right leg and left arm move first. We begin to walk out, a transparently nervous smile painted on my face. Two counts of eight later we stop at the center of the deck. We glide to our positions as the counts continue, and finally we pose just as practiced. The announcer fights with the cheering crowd to inform the judges and audience of our age group, team name, and routine number. A whistle blows. Silence. A silence that is less then ten seconds but feels as if it could last forever.

            The start of familiar music cuts the silence. The music I have heard at least 50 times a week for the last 4 months. I nervously go through the movements as practiced. Finally, it is time to dive into the water. My hands hit the chilly water and soon the familiar feel of the water engulfs my body. My nerves seem to have rushed from my body as the water came towards it.

The next four minutes fly by as my arms and legs do the work for me. Muscle memory has taken over. The fast movements that at some points I thought I would never accomplish now come with ease. My smile has become natural as I make eye contact with the judges surrounding the pool. The end of our routine comes. Breathing hard with a smile still on my face I climb out and hug my teammates. I feel good about my performance, and the scores back up the feeling. I cannot believe I have come this far.

            I have just completed my final swim – team finals at collegiate nationals. It feels like just yesterday that my 7-year-old self was struggling to stay afloat at my first practice. My grandmother was a synchronized swimming coach. She coached my mother, who now coaches, and naturally I have followed the tradition.

Synchronized swimming has evolved a great deal since my grandmother’s time. I remember my grandmother telling me stories about how her teammates and she would gather at the movie theaters as each new synchronized swimming movie was released, just as I do now with my teammates during the Olympics. On the silver screen, during the 40’s and 50’s, synchronized swimming skyrocketed, and each new release was a miraculous event. Esther Williams, the star in many of the Aquacade movies, was the synchronized swimmer everyone dreamed of becoming. She even portrayed Annette Kellermann in my grandmother’s favorite synchronized swimming movie, Million Dollar Mermaid. Annette Kellermann was an Australian woman who is the known originator of this sport. William's movements were filled with beauty and grace, and involved props such as slides, elaborate sets, and stages emerging from the pool, a symbol of synchronized swimming that would be etched into history. Because of William’s, synchronized swimming gained popularity throughout the globe. Teams began to form within countries and the competitive nature of the sport began to rise.

Just as my grandmother and I watched the synchronized swimming endeavors of our time, my mother watched the ones of hers. She recalls being glued to the television set every time a synchronized swimming exhibition came on. In order to become eligible as sport in the Olympic games, athletes must complete demonstrations. Beginning in 1952, synchronized swimming began to pursue this feat. After over 20 years of demonstrations, synchronized swimming was finally accepted into the Olympic games. 1984 was the first Olympic games where the world was introduced to synchronized swimming as a legitimate sport. It was no longer just about looking pretty for the spotlight; it was also about showing strength and technique. My mom told me she cried when watching the first Olympic synchronized swimming competition, after the American duet won the gold. It was such a great accomplishment for the sport.

Not only has the sport grown over the last 70 years in terms of popularity, acknowledgment, and skill, but also it has grown in terms of the guidelines and rules of the sport. While Esther Williams performed her “water ballet” with groups of over 20 performers, male and female, today’s routines consist of about 8 swimmers, usually female. While males are allowed to join synchronized swimming teams, is a rare occasion, and they are not allowed to compete at the Olympic level. Synchronized swimming teams may have up to 50 swimmers, but they are broken down into different age groups and skill levels to perform different routines.

A typical meet has competition for team, trio, duet, solo, and combination routines. A team routine consists of four to eight swimmers. Depending on the age group, they will swim a routine that is 3 to 4 minutes long. Trios, duets, and solos are groups of three, two, or one persons. A combination routine consists of ten swimmers that swim a variety of different routines with in one. At one point a single athlete will be performing, and a few seconds later all ten will be performing in synch. All of these routines are performed to music in which swimmers count in sets of eight to the music in order to perform the moves in unison. Music can be heard both above and below the water.

Figures is another aspect of synchronized swimming. These elements are done independently. Figures are done without music, in front of a panel of judges, similar to ice-skating. Swimmers will demonstrate four, predetermined elements, one at a time, and scores will factor into the final placement of each routine.

Although competition has become a large part of synchronized swimming today, it is not the only way to be involved. In a way, Esther William’s memory has lived on, through shows. Various groups perform shows for entertainment rather then competition. The most famous of these would be O and Le Reve. O is a Cirque Du Soleil show, and Le Reve is similar. Both shows highlight synchronized swimming in a magical and extraordinary way. Performers incorporate synchronized swimming elements into the show using not only water, but also props such as a stage and swings, like Williams. These shows have taken Esther William’s performances to a whole new level.

There is a world of opportunity in synchronized swimming. Although I have finished my colligate synchronized swimming career, I have so much more to look forward to. Whether it is a new direction for synchronized swimming, or it is watching my future child delve into the sport, I know there are so many more outlets for the sport to go. Whether I remain a swimmer, or become a coach or spectator, synchronized swimming will always be in my heart.