1) The smell of Knox gelatin
Knox gelatin is not only used for baking. Oh no. These swimmers use this heated up goo to keep their hair rock hard while in the water performing a routine. All synchronized swimmers know the unforgettable smell of a hot gel session the night before a big routine meet!! (not so yum). And the satisfying feeling of washing it out in a hot shower!
2) The utter pain of underwater's
Underwater's are a synchronized swimmer's worst night mare. Holding your breath for a whole twenty five yards is a lot... especially when you have to keep repeating them one after the other! And towards the end your body seems to be screaming for air!
3) Decking
Synchronized swimming is a sport which requires extensive memorization, and before the motor memory sticks, swimmers must work through their routine on land before hopping into the water to give it a whirl. This process consists of a lot of music starts, restarts, position changes, and lots of finger snaps and clapping to make sure we really get the moves down!
4) Feeling chances to breathe are rare occurrences
Have you ever considered the air we breath to be a something that's in low supply? To be something you need to conserve? Well, the thought of conserving air is something synchronized swimmers know all too well! In practice oxygen is always in short supply because of how long we're required to stay underwater!!
5) Bedazzling, extreme makeup, and devotion to a crazy passion.
Spending hours with team members, gluing rhinestones to our swimsuits and head pieces, adjusting suits, making Walgreen's runs for water proof makeup, and meeting up outside of practice to plan routines, eat food, or to have team sleepovers are all activities which surround synchronized swimming, and give it it's heart and soul!!
