RP synchronized
swimming team win medals in Thailand
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July
23, 2007
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– The first ever synchronized swimming team of the Philippines won
for the country several medals in the Thailand Synchro Open and Age
Competitions which was held on July 14 -17, 2007.
In an interview, head
of the delegation Dr. Elizabeth D. Mascardo, informed the Philippine
Information Agency that in the above 18 years old category, Ida Noelle
DG Calumpang won for the country silver medal for open solo free
technical while Mae Listones won the bronze medal in the open solo
free technical.
Furthermore, the free
duet of Emrin Haya Hamsain and Corinna Denise Rosete won for the
country, the bronze medal.
Dr. Mascardo said that
this is already a good performance considering that this is the first
time the country has had a synchronized swimming team compete abroad.
She added that the managers acknowledge the fact that there is much to
be in order to improve the country’s synchronized swimming team’s
performance.
Dr. Mascardo led the
synchronized swimming team which left for Thailand on July 12 in order
to be the first ever such team of the country to compete
internationally. Together with her, were assistant head of delegation
Maxima M. Hamsain and Gretchen Catherin M. Hamsain, coach Reina Rose
E. Suarez and the fourteen members of the synchronized swimming team.
The members of the
Team have gained not only medals but the needed self-confidence and
the experience which is much-needed if the country is to seriously
consider sending synchronized swimming teams in international
competitions, Dr. Mascardo said.
Synchronized swimming
is a hybrid of swimming, gymnastics and dance. It involves
competitors' (either individuals, duets, trios or teams) combining
strength, endurance, flexibility, grace and artistry with exceptional
breath control while upside down underwater. Developed in the early
1900s in Canada, it is a sport performed almost exclusively by women.
Unusual, but vital,
equipment helps the women maintain the illusion of effortlessness, no
simple task considering they perform strenuous movements upside down
and underwater while holding their breath. A nose clip prevents water
from entering the nose, allowing the swimmers to remain underwater for
long periods. Gelatine keeps the hair in place. Make-up brings out the
features.
Most importantly, an
underwater speaker lets the swimmers hear the music clearly while
underwater, helping them achieve the split-second timing critical to
synchronised swimming.
Originally known as
water ballet, synchronized swimming began in Canada in the 1920s. It
spread to the United States in the early '30s, where a display at the
1934 Chicago World's Fair drew rave reviews. Its popularity soared
further when Esther Williams performed in a string of MGM "aqua
musicals" in the 1940s and '50s.
Synchronized swimming
emerged as an exhibition sport at the Olympic Games from 1948 to 1968,
then debuted as a full medal sport in
Los Angeles
in 1984. It is open only to women, with medals offered in two events:
duet and team.
Competition for both
events consists of a technical routine and a free routine, each
performed to music within a time limit. In the technical routine,
swimmers perform specific moves in a set order, including boosts,
rockets, thrusts and twirls. In the free routine there are no
restrictions on music or choreography. Judges of each routine look for
a high degree of difficulty and risk, flawless execution, innovative
choreography and seemingly effortless performance.
The judging for
synchronized swimming resembles the judging for figure skating. Two
panels of five judges assess a performance, one panel scoring
technical merit and the other assessing artistic impression. In both
cases, each judge awards a mark out of a possible 10.