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Paris Olympics: Team USA qualifies in artistic swimming. Mixed-gender teams to compete for 1st time
By Deirdre Fitzpatrick
Paris Olympics: Team USA qualifies in artistic swimming. Mixed-gender teams to compete for 1st time
YOU’LL NOTICE IN THE POOL. IT HASN’T HAPPENED SINCE 2008. AND THEN ON THE FIRST ONE, A LITTLE BIT LATE. TEAM USA’S ARTISTIC SWIMMING TEAM IS ONE OF TEN TEAMS TO QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPICS. NOW WE’RE WORKING HARD AND HARD TO TO GO TO THE NEXT STAGE OF BEING THE BEST ATHLETE YOU CAN BE. ATHLETES MUST BE IN SYNC, CAN’T TOUCH THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL OR LOSE EYE CONTACT WITH JUDGES. GOT TO COME UP. GOT TO LOOK LIKE I DIDN’T GET LIKE, YOU KNOW, KICKED IN THE FACE OR, YOU KNOW, LIKE, HAVE TO, LIKE, HOLD MY BREATH SUPER LONG. LIKE, YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK LIKE YOU’RE READY FOR ANYTHING. AND YES, THEY’RE CHASING GOLD. WE ACTUALLY USE BABY -- CREAM WHILE HIDING FROM THE SUN. IT HAS A TON OF ZINC OXIDE IN IT, AND THAT WILL PHYSICALLY BLOCK OUT THE SUN INSTEAD OF JUST LIKE LETTING IT COME THROUGH. LIKE MOST SUNSCREENS, THIS TEAM HAS BEEN ALL IN ON THE PARIS GOAL FOR THE LAST YEAR AND FOR SOME, THAT’S MEANT RELOCATING TO LA. IT’S MEANT PUTTING COLLEGE ON HOLD, AND IT’S MEANT COMMITTING TO PRACTICES THAT ARE 8 TO 10 HOURS A DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK. MOST OF WHICH IS SPENT IN THE WATER. A NEW RULE CHANGE ALLOWS UP TO TWO MEN ON A TEAM. IT’S A HUGE STEP IN THE SPORT, AND THAT’S SOMETHING 45 YEAR OLD BILL MAY HAS FOUGHT DECADES FOR. I THINK NOW THAT MEN ARE ALLOWED, IT’S ONLY GOING TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR MORE MEN TO BE IN THE SPORT AND JUST FOR MORE FAMILIES AND PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO SAY, OKAY, THIS SPORT IS INCLUSIVE, THIS SPORT IS NOW INCLUSIVE, BUT AN OLYMPIC TEAM CAN ONLY INCLUDE EIGHT AND CUTS ARE COMING. IT’S LIKE HEARTBREAKING BECAUSE IMAGINE LIKE WE HAVE DONE THIS HISTORIC STEP AND 12 OF US, LIKE ALL THE 12 SWAM THAT TIME TO QUALIFY THE TEAM. AND NOW THERE’S FOUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO STAY HOME. I CAN FEEL THE BUZZ WITH THE OLYMPICS, AND I REALLY WANT TO BE THERE. AND IT’S IT’S MY DREAM, A DREAM
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Paris Olympics: Team USA qualifies in artistic swimming. Mixed-gender teams to compete for 1st time
By Deirdre Fitzpatrick
Team USA has qualified for the Olympic team competition in artistic swimming, something that hasn't happened since 2008.Artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, is considered one of the hardest Olympic sports.Swimmers need endurance, strength, and flexibility. They spend roughly half their competition time underwater. It's like being an aquatic acrobat.They can't touch the bottom of the pool. And, they're expected to maintain eye contact with judges when they're above the water line.Keana Hunter is one of the 12 athletes who helped the team earn one of ten Olympic qualification spots."We've got to come up, got to look like I didn't get kicked in the face, or you know, like I have to hold my breath super long. You just have to look like you're ready for anything," Hunter said.Four-time Olympic medalist Andrea Fuentes is Team USA's head coach. Fuentes competed for Spain. She took over as coach for Team USA in 2018.Fuentes has challenged her athletes to be "game changers."No one is more game-changing in the pool than Bill May. A new rule change allows for mixed-gender teams in the Olympics for the first time. Teams can include up to two men.May is 45 and pushed for the change in his sport for decades. May spent nearly 20 years performing in Cirque du Soleil because men weren't allowed in Olympic competition. These days, he's the head coach for the San Clara Artistic Swim Club and could potentially see his Olympic dream become a reality in Paris."I think now that men are allowed, it's only going to open the doors for men to be in the sport and for our families and people around the world to say, OK, this sport is inclusive," May said. The sport is inclusive. But sadly, the Olympic team can only include eight of the 12 who earned the Paris qualification. Cuts are coming.Coach Fuentes has decisions to make, and she admits it's heartbreaking."Now that's four people who have to stay home," Fuentes said.Artistic swimming is scheduled for Aug. 5-10 at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Team USA has qualified for the Olympic team competition in artistic swimming, something that hasn't happened since 2008.

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Artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, is considered one of the hardest Olympic sports.

Swimmers need endurance, strength, and flexibility. They spend roughly half their competition time underwater. It's like being an aquatic acrobat.

    They can't touch the bottom of the pool. And, they're expected to maintain eye contact with judges when they're above the water line.

    Keana Hunter is one of the 12 athletes who helped the team earn one of ten Olympic qualification spots.

    "We've got to come up, got to look like I didn't get kicked in the face, or you know, like I have to hold my breath super long. You just have to look like you're ready for anything," Hunter said.

    Four-time Olympic medalist Andrea Fuentes is Team USA's head coach. Fuentes competed for Spain. She took over as coach for Team USA in 2018.

    Fuentes has challenged her athletes to be "game changers."

    No one is more game-changing in the pool than Bill May. A new rule change allows for mixed-gender teams in the Olympics for the first time. Teams can include up to two men.

    May is 45 and pushed for the change in his sport for decades. May spent nearly 20 years performing in Cirque du Soleil because men weren't allowed in Olympic competition. These days, he's the head coach for the San Clara Artistic Swim Club and could potentially see his Olympic dream become a reality in Paris.

    "I think now that men are allowed, it's only going to open the doors for men to be in the sport and for our families and people around the world to say, OK, this sport is inclusive," May said.

    The sport is inclusive. But sadly, the Olympic team can only include eight of the 12 who earned the Paris qualification. Cuts are coming.

    Coach Fuentes has decisions to make, and she admits it's heartbreaking.

    "Now that's four people who have to stay home," Fuentes said.

    Artistic swimming is scheduled for Aug. 5-10 at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.