China Clinches Artistic Swimming Gold at Paris Olympics Amid Absence of Russia

SAINT-DENIS, France — For the first time since the 2000 Sydney Games, a new nation claimed gold in the Olympic artistic swimming team event, as Russia did not compete. China’s team seized the opportunity and dominated, clinching the gold medal Wednesday night at the Paris Olympics. The United States secured silver, while Spain captured bronze.

China’s performance was impeccable, earning them a score of 996.1389 points, well ahead of the Americans’ 914.3421 and Spain’s 900.7319. The competition’s outcome is a significant achievement for China and marks a notable progression for the sport itself, which rebranded from synchronized swimming several years ago to update its image.

“There is attention to the sport that has never happened before,” said Adam Andrasko, head of USA Artistic Swimming. “This is an absolutely different sport.” Despite the traditional makeup and hair gelatin remaining, artistic swimming now emphasizes athleticism—exemplified by the power and endurance showcased in Wednesday’s routines.

In the acrobatic routine, each team performed seven above-water elements, propelling a designated “flier” two meters above the water surface for flips and dives. These feats were executed without the support of the pool’s bottom, highlighting the swimmers’ strength and coordination.

The sport, now characterized by more intricate and muscular routines, has adopted routines such as the grueling Moonwalk, performed upside down with swimmers’ heads submerged. Significant rule and judging changes made 18 months ago transformed the event into a spectacle akin to gymnastics on water, elevated by an edge similar to figure skating.

“People are pleasantly confused about how in the world these women can do what they do,” Andrasko noted, underscoring the elevated complexity and risks involved in modern artistic swimming.

This year also marked the first time men could compete in artistic swimming at the Olympics, though no men were selected by any teams. Nearly all eyes now turn to the prospect of introducing a mixed duet team event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, which would expand opportunities for male swimmers.

“There was not nearly enough time for nearly enough males to prepare for this chance,” explained Andrasko, citing the short timeframe of a year and a half before the Olympics as a challenge to sparking broader male participation.