@downtide Try it for 10 minutes then tell me it’s not a sport. We practiced 3 hours a day, 4 days a week. Half that time was just laps for strengthening and cardio. On top of that, we were required to swim a mile each week and stretch enough, 24/7, to always be able to do center splits and other such feats of flexibility. We did all that in order to be strong enough in the arms to scull our bodies on the surface while being flexy enough to sling our legs around, and also support ourselves upside down while doing the same. We had to be srong enough in the legs to support ourselves while doing shit with our upper bodies halfway out of the water. Ever try the lifeguard test, eggbeatering with a brick in each hand for two minutes? Or water polo – ever try moving around with the ball? Pfft, easy peasy. Now try these things while keeping yourself out of the water to the waist for two minutes. Then drown knowing that synchronized swimming is a goddamn brutal sport.
I am obviously biased, but y’all are obviously uninformed. Here, have an article.