As part of the “sport’s progression towards inclusivity,” men will be able to compete in artistic swimming at the Olympics for the first time starting in Paris 2024.
The proposal to allow up to two males to be picked in the eight-person team event in the sport formerly known as synchronized swimming has been approved by the International Olympic Committee.
The next Olympics in France will see a historic change to a sport that was originally included in the Games in 1984, even though men have been eligible to compete at the FINA World Aquatics Championships since 2015.
The announcement “marks a milestone in the history of artistic swimming,” according to Italy’s Giorgio Minisini, who won the mixed duet technical routine in 2017 and 2022.
“Our sport’s evolution towards inclusivity is going on fast forward and this decision from IOC and World Aquatics will help us become an example for the whole Olympic movement.”
One of the primary voices pushing for reform has been American swimmer and coach Bill May, who won the first-ever male world championship in the inaugural mixed duet technical event seven years ago.
He stated: “The inclusion of men in Olympic artistic swimming was once considered the impossible dream. This proves that we should all dream big. The male athletes have endured. Now, through their perseverance and the help and support of so many, all athletes may stand alongside each other equally, reaching for Olympic glory.”
Ten artistic swimming teams are anticipated to compete in Paris 2024, according to World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam, who called the statement “a great credit to all those who have worked for many years to make this happen”.
He added: “Aquatics sports are universal and men have proven themselves to be excellent artistic swimmers. I look forward to seeing this new dimension of artistic swimming being shared with the world in Paris.”