The Technical Congress of the International Swimming Federation approved the inclusion of men in group competitions in synchronized swimming.
The corresponding changes in the rules will come into force on January 1, 2023.
Previously, men could compete at official international competitions only as part of mixed duets.
In addition, from next year, a male solo will appear in the program of the World Championships.
These innovations were expected: FINA has long been committed to gender equality and empowering men in synchronized swimming.
As Olga Brusnikina, First Vice President of the Russian Synchronized Swimming Federation, noted, the decisions could be the first step towards introducing mixed duets into the Olympic Games program.
In turn, the head coach of the national team Tatyana Pokrovskaya noted that sports in general will only benefit from allowing men to play in groups.
For synchronized swimmers around the world, FINA's step means a lot - and first of all, the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games, if the changes are approved by the IOC.
In the Russian national team, this prospect opens up most clearly before the four-time world champion in the mixed duet Alexander Maltsev, despite the lack of experience in this type of program.
He himself did not rule out that he would take part in the Games - if the national team was allowed to take part in them.
“For this, you will need to prepare well, because the last time I performed in a group was when I was a child.
However, for now, there is no point in guessing about the Olympics, the situation as a whole is unstable, there are doubts that in the near future we will return to the international arena, ”TASS quotes the athlete.
At the same time, he expressed the opinion that it would be more logical for FINA to start with the introduction of mixed duets into the Olympic program as a spectacular discipline that shows the beauty of synchronized swimming.
And the presence of boys in group programs along with girls can cause biased refereeing.
“The participation of men will be a plus in terms of performing elements that require strength, for example, support.
But from the point of view of synchronicity, female groups will have an advantage, because in this regard it is easier for girls to synchronize, they will be purely visually more similar.
Therefore, the comparison will not be entirely objective, ”Alexander emphasized.
The news from FINA, as expected, caused a strong reaction in the sports and sports circles.
Synchronized swimming has always been considered a purely female sport, therefore, consistent attempts to dilute it with representatives of the stronger sex are met with hostility by many.
In particular, State Duma deputy Dmitry Svishchev spoke categorically about this, saying that "the world has gone crazy."
“I don’t know what FINA came up with, but I’m sure that the Russians will not succumb to this provocation.
We will all watch and admire the beauty and grace of our girls in this unique sport.
If there are men performing, I will look at it as a freak show.
Men should go in for men's sports - there are quite a lot of them.
We will also admire them, but not in synchronized swimming.
I really hope that the majority of sane people in the national federation do not accept this FINA innovation, as do the athletes themselves, ”Sport24 quotes the parliamentarian.
His Duma colleague Nikolai Valuev went even further and called those who make such decisions crazy and moral freaks.
A more balanced position was expressed by the Olympic champion in speed skating Svetlana Zhurova.
She recalled that mixed competitions have recently appeared in many sports.
For example, at the last three Summer Olympics medals were played in mixed tennis.
“This is such a practice that both those and others are paired.
We also have a boy and a girl dancing.
Nobody pays attention to it.
Then how is synchronized swimming different and worse? ”The deputy emphasized.
She also said that she saw Maltsev's solo performance and it made a strong impression on her.
“I liked the way our soloist performed.
Men in synchronized swimming are already attracted to us, and they perform amazingly, ”said Zhurova.
The popular TV presenter Dmitry Guberniev also spoke out for the innovation, who emphasized that in the modern world women are also involved in men's sports, and vice versa.
“I am a fan of men's synchronized swimming and men's rhythmic gymnastics.
Now our task is to return to big sport.
The wise guys will start saying it's not necessary.
But it is not, the world will move forward.
Men are great at synchronized swimming, look at Maltsev.
Long live the men!”
- Guberniev is quoted by Sport-Express.