An Unexpected Adventure
Photo Credit: Liz Corman Photography
Some thoughts at the end of this wild ride.
In January of 2021 I got an unexpected call from a fellow dance medicine colleague asking if I would be able and willing to work with the USA National Artistic Swimming Team who happened to be training locally here in Moraga. She was the team physician, and they were looking for weekly PT support. As you know, the 2020 Olympics had been delayed, so this was the Olympic year, and they were going for it.
My internal reaction was something like “Wow, yes! Wait, no. I know nothing about this sport. This would be amazing! What if I fail the team?” The yo-yo of wanting, and self-doubt. I slept on it. I talked to my family, trusted friends, and most importantly listened to what my intuition was telling me. I could do this. I didn’t know much about this sport YET, but I could learn, and be curious. And watch lots of YouTube videos. The rest of it was what I already do every day- evaluate, treat, and support highly trained artistic athletes. Seemed I was more confident in the hardest part.
As you know, I said yes. I figured I could learn along the way. I think the team is used to having to explain their sport. I asked a lot of probably ridiculous questions, and they didn’t bat an eye. They were so gracious in answering and demonstrating and letting me observe their practices. I’ve always loved watching this sport. Now I had a front row seat to the best in the country and couldn’t wait to learn more. If there’s any doubt in your mind, these are elite athletes.
Answers to questions I often get:
· Our national team is made up of athletes from all over the country who moved away from home to train together, many at a young age.
· Synchronized Swimming rebranded to Artistic Swimming a few years ago to better reflect the sport.
· They complete their schooling online (even pre-COVID!) after all day practices.
· Their day usually starts at the gym, followed by 7 or so hours in the pool, 6 days a week.
· The senior team I worked with ranged in age from 15-24 years old, the junior team 15-18.
· They can sit on the bottom of the pool for 3 minutes.
· Teams compete tech (with required elements) and free routines and have 8 athletes in the pool. These routines were used for the Olympic Qualifiers. There are other routines used for different competitions that allow more in the water.
· The scoring is controversial, political, and subjective. They’re apparently working on this.
· They never touch the bottom during their routines.
· Most prevalent injuries – hips, shoulders, knees, and concussions (they kick each other in the head a lot and land on each other during impressive lifts and throws).
· They “knox” their hair with gelatin to make it shiny. It dries hard and comes out pretty easily with a hot shower. This is quite a process.
I got to know this group of beautiful humans well over our weekly sessions, and then even more so during the 2-week experience of Olympic Qualifiers in Barcelona this past summer. I’ve seen them at their highest high, and lowest low. Truly unforgettable. The team is now relocating to train out of the UCLA campus. Others are moving on and beginning new chapters as they swim for collegiate teams and earn their degrees. I will miss them and wish them all the best. I am excited to watch their journey from afar and am forever grateful this opportunity was presented to me. I hope you’ll say yes to opportunities that come your way even if, no, especially if they scare you a little bit. I’m sure glad I did.
If you haven’t seen them yet, or want to revisit their incredible Olympic Qualifier routines, here is the tech and free (robot) where I lost my voice. They may not have qualified (by 0.2 points), but their robot has gone down in the history of the sport as one of the most incredible comebacks and the most watched routine in history. Maybe someday watching it won’t bring tears of pride to my eyes, but that day is not today.
