The news comes after the Global Olympic Committee accepted World Aquatics’ ask for to permit the inclusion of men at the Games. Artistic Swimming was referred to as Synchronized Swimming till 2017.
At the Paris Olympics, men will be allowed in the team Creative Swimming event. Each team is made up of eight athletes, with a maximum of two men allowed per team.
“This is a day of celebration for those who have campaigned for your inclusion of males in the sport in the Olympic Games and who have pioneered mens participation, ” said FINA in a declaration.
Men have been permitted to compete in the sport at the World Aquatics Championships since 2015.
“Aquatics sports are usually universal and mankind has proven themselves to be excellent artistic swimmers, ” World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam said of the guideline change.
“I look forward to viewing this new aspect of artistic going swimming being shared with the entire world in Paris. The inclusion of guys in artistic swimming is a great credit to all those who have worked for many years to make this happen. ”
American sportsman Bill May, who seem to became the inaugural winner of the mixed duet technical occasion alongside Christina Jones in 2015, hailed the landmark announcement.
“The inclusion of men in Olympic Artistic Swimming was once considered the impossible wish, ” May stated.
“This proves that we must dream big. The male athletes possess endured. Now, via their perseverance and the help and support of so many, all of the athletes may stand alongside each other equally, reaching for Olympic glory, ” May added.