Synchronised swimming or artistic swimming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance, and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronised routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music. Synchronised swimming is governed internationally by FINA, and has been part of the Summer Olympics programme since 1984.
At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, the team event in women's synchronized swimming was contested. It was the first appearance of the team event, which replaced the duet and solo events held previously.
The women's team event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, took place at the Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre from 26 to 27 August. The Russian synchronized swimmers delivered a superb performance to defend their Olympic title in the event, having received a straight line of five perfect marks from the judges for a composite score of 99.501. Japan maintained a silver-medal streak on its second Olympics by a single point short of Russia's score with 98.501, after displaying their explosive lifts and quick changes of pattern throughout the routine. Having failed to secure an Olympic medal in the sport from the previous Olympics, the U.S. squad assembled a colorful demonstration of multiple sequences and flying leaps to hold on for the bronze with a score of 97.418.
The women's duet synchronized swimming event at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held from August 18 to 20, at the Beijing National Aquatics Center.
The women's team event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, took place at the Beijing National Aquatics Center from 22 to 23 August. The Russian squad had displayed their complex choreography with an unmatched precision in the free routine to defend their Olympic title for the third straight victory, having received a nearly perfect mark of 99.500 by the judges. Spain picked up a silver with 98.251 points, while the Chinese squad surpassed the 2004 Olympic silver medal team Japan by nearly a two-point advantage to claim a bronze for the host nation's first ever Olympic medal, recording a composite score of 97.334.
Synchronized swimming competitions at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara were held from October 18 to October 21, at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center. The winning team, Canada (CAN), qualified its country to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain.
The women's team competition of the synchronized swimming events at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara were held from October 19 to October 21, at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center. The defending Pan American Champion is the team from the United States.
The women's 100 metre backstroke competition of the swimming events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place on October 16 at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center in the municipality of Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico. The defending Pan American Games champion is Julia Smit of the United States.
The men's 100 metre freestyle competition of the swimming events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place on October 16 at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center in the municipality of Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico. The defending Pan American Games champion was César Cielo Filho of the Brazil.
The men's 100 metre breaststroke competition of the swimming events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place on October 16 at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center in Mexico. The defending Pan American Games champion was Scott Dickens of Canada.
The men's 50 metre freestyle competition of the swimming events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place on October 20 at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center in the municipality of Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico. The defending Pan American Games champion was César Cielo Filho of Brazil.
The men's 200 metre backstroke competition of the swimming events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place on 21 October at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center. The defending Pan American Games champion was Thiago Pereira of Brazil.
The men's 100 metre butterfly competition of the swimming events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place on 20 October at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center. The defending Pan American Games champion was Kaio de Almeida of Brazil.
The women's 800 metre freestyle competition of the swimming events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place between October 18 and 19 at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center in the municipality of Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico. The defending Pan American Games champion was Caroline Burckle of the United States.
The women's team event at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, took place at the Aquatics Centre from 9 to 10 August. Russia maintained its dominance in the sport, as the team delivered a nearly perfect, complex choreography for another gold medal at its fourth consecutive Olympics, having received a powerful, composite score of 197.030 by the judges. Meanwhile, the Chinese squad resisted the challenge from Spain on a historical breakthrough to add a silver in the event with 194.010, edging the Spaniards out of the pool to accept the bronze for a total score of 193.120.
The women's team event at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, took place at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre from 28 to 29 September. The Russian synchronized swimmers performed a witch-themed routine with a variety of flying lifts and multiple pattern changes to score 99.146 out of a possible 100 points for an Olympic gold medal in the team event. The Japanese squad excelled in the artistic impression component for a score of 40 in the final free routine, but had to be satisfied with a second Olympic silver at these Games, having received an overall total of 98.860. Meanwhile, the Canadian octet snatched the bronze with a composite score of 97.357, finishing ahead of France by almost a full point (96.467). The U.S. team failed to collect an Olympic medal for the first time since the sport's introduction in 1984, as the swimmers finished the routine in fifth at 96.467.
The women's duet competition of the synchronized swimming events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 9 to July 11, at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. The defending Pan American Champion was duet from Canada.
The women's team competition of the synchronized swimming events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 9 to July 11, at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. The defending Pan American Champion was the team from Canada.
The women's duet event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, will take place at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre from 2 to 4 August 2021. It will be the 9th time the women's duet event is held at the Olympic Games.
The women's team event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, will take place at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on 6 and 7 August 2021. It will be the 7th time the women's team event is held at the Olympic Games.
