Equipment and Playing Environment in Artistic Swimming
Artistic Swimming, often referred to as synchronized swimming, is a sport that combines grace, strength, and precision. To achieve the high level of performance and coordination required, athletes rely on specific equipment and a carefully designed playing environment.
Playing Environment
The sport takes place in a regulated swimming pool. The pool water is kept clean, with a controlled temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius to ensure comfort and safety. The pool’s size should be at least 20 meters by 30 meters, with a designated area of 12 meters by 12 meters at a minimum depth of 3 meters to allow for the sport’s intricate routines and underwater movements.
Key Equipment
- Goggles:
While goggles are vital for protecting the eyes during training, they are not allowed in routine competitions. They help athletes during underwater practice but are only used in the figure test, a training segment that focuses on technique. Like goggles, bathing caps are restricted during competitions; however, athletes may wear black or white caps for figure tests. - Underwater Speakers:
Music is central to Artistic Swimming as it drives the rhythm and timing of each routine. Underwater speakers, built with Piezoelectric Technology, are essential to ensuring athletes hear music clearly while submerged. These specialized speakers overcome the natural 62 dB (decibel) sound offset between air and water, allowing sound to transmit effectively underwater. -
Swimsuit:
Swimsuits for Artistic Swimming are designed to be non-transparent, comfortable, and suited to each routine. During figure tests, a simple black swimsuit is typically worn. For competitions, athletes wear customized swimsuits that align with the music and theme of their performance. When athletes participate in multiple events, such as duets and team routines, different swimsuits are provided to suit each specific event.