At the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, male competitors will be able to participate in Olympic Artistic Swimming competitions for the first time, according to FINA, the world’s governing body of aquatic sports.
The announcement follows the IOC’s approval of World Aquatics’ request to allow the participation of men in the Games. Up until 2017, artistic swimming was referred to as synchronized swimming.
Men will be allowed to compete in the team artistic swimming event at the Paris Olympics. Eight athletes make up each team, with a maximum of two males per team allowed.
According to a statement from FINA, “This is a day of celebration for individuals who have advocated for the inclusion of men in the sport at the Olympic Games and who have pioneered men’s participation.”
Since 2015, men have been able to participate in the sport at the World Aquatics Championships.
Husain Al-Musallam, president of World Aquatics, defended the new regulation by stating that swimming is a universal sport and that males have consistently shown themselves to be good artists.
“I’m excited to witness this brand-new aspect of creative swimming being introduced to the world in Paris. Men are now allowed to participate in artistic swimming, which is a tremendous testament to everyone who has pushed hard for this to happen over the years.
The historic announcement was praised by American athlete Bill May, who won the mixed duet technical event for the first time in 2015 alongside Christina Jones.
Men participating in Olympic artistic swimming was long seen as an impossibility, May remarked.
This demonstrates why we should all have lofty dreams. The male competitors have persevered. All athletes may now stand side by side and compete for Olympic gold on an equal footing thanks to their tenacity and the assistance and support of so many, May continued.