Australia's Artistic Swimming Team has opened its 2024 Games campaign with a stunning technical routine set to the electrifying soundtrack of "Volcano" by Hans Zimmer.
Combining the elegance of Gymnastics with the fluidity of Swimming, Artistic Swimming mesmerises audiences with its choreographed water acrobatics.
Choreographed and performed with ‘jungle’ as a theme, the Aussie Team's technical routine was especially challenging, earning a degree of difficulty score of 43.200 to place 10th on day one of competition.
With precise execution, the team achieved an impressive element score of 152.3071 and an artistic impression score of 83.6000.
“We were really happy that we didn't get any basemarks (points removed),” said dual Olympian Kiera Gazzard.
“I think that's the highest score we've gotten for this routine. So, to start our Olympic campaign off this way is great.”
New Olympic rules introduced for Paris require routines to include specific movements called elements (technical, free hybrid, and acrobatic).
Teams must submit a "coach card" listing the exact elements and their sequence before the competition.
For their technical routine, the Australian Team performed nine elements: five technical, three free hybrid, and one acrobatic.
Australia's eight swimmers' efforts in the water allowed them to perfectly time and execute their routine, avoiding any penalties.
The swimmers had an unprecedented Games preparation at the Hancock Prospecting Artistic Swimming Australia Centre of Excellence program in Perth.
In Paris, the crowd's roar added an extra layer of excitement - a new experience for Kiera, who competed in Tokyo to empty stands.
“We can't hear it underway, but you can feel it underwater. The doors open, the lights are on you, and you just take on that excitement,” she said.
Teammate and debutant Georgia Courage-Gardiner shared her enthusiasm.
“It was hectic. You arrived, and the noise was overwhelming. It was just, wow, crazy.
"The energy was so good. Having people cheer you on whenever you're up breathing, it really helps the whole routine.”
The technical routine is just the beginning for the Aussies, with a free routine scheduled for Wednesday at 3:30am AEST. The newly-added acrobatic routine on 8 August at 3:30am AEST.
Rankings and medals will be determined once all three routines have been completed by the ten Teams in the competition.
Australia aims to surpass its best-ever team result of eighth place from Beijing 2008. With such a strong start, the future looks bright for these talented athletes.
Sarah Dyce
