How was artistic swimming resurrected in Spain? Two "stars", less water and a new regulation
In the stands of the Palau Sant Jordi, during the 2013 World Cup in Barcelona, a young girl was captivated by the grace and beauty of Ona Carbonell’s artistic swimming performance. Inspired by what she saw, Iris Tió, just nine years old at the time, turned to her parents, both musicians, and declared, “I want to be like her.” Little did she know that her declaration would set her on a path that would lead her to become the new star of Spanish artistic swimming and help resurrect the national team.
The journey to revival wasn’t an easy one. After the spectacular performances by the Spanish team in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, disaster struck with the Anna Tarrés case, resulting in the firing of the coach and the departure of several swimmers. The team struggled to regain its footing and failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, Spain has already secured two spots and is once again aiming for medals.
In the recent World Cup in Doha, Iris Tió and her partner Alisa Ozhogina, along with the Spanish team, finished in fourth position. There is still work to be done, but with months of preparation ahead and a strong drive, anything is possible next summer. So how did Spain revive its artistic swimming program? It’s a combination of enthusiastic young athletes like Tió, the new coaching team led by Mayuko Fujiki, and a change in regulations.
Mayuko Fujiki, the coach, praises Iris and Alisa as “two stars” and sees them as the successors of past champions like Ona Carbonell and Andrea Fuentes. Despite their different training backgrounds, with Tió from a renowned club in Barcelona and Ozhogina from a humble club in Seville, they both made their mark on the national team at a young age and had to work hard to rise to the top. Their style and technique have been greatly influenced by the Russian school of artistic swimming, and it has propelled them to the forefront of the sport.
While they achieved podium finishes in the technical part of the recent championship, there is still room for improvement, especially in the free exercises and acrobatic part. Coach Fujiki acknowledges that to be on the podium in Paris, they need to do better, and she is committed to making it happen.
The departure of Anna Tarrés left a void in the technical direction of the national team, and it was Mayuko Fujiki who stepped in to fill that role in 2017. With her experience as a former synchronized swimmer and her work with Tarrés, as well as other countries’ teams, she took charge of the new project and implemented a new work methodology. Her measures include prioritizing rest and limiting training hours in the water, which has resulted in better quality training sessions.
One significant factor in the revival of Spanish artistic swimming is the change in regulations. The sport, previously known as synchronized swimming, has become freer and more unpredictable. The new regulations reward stunts and punish mistakes, making it difficult to determine the winner beforehand. This has opened up opportunities for different countries to excel in the discipline. While traditional powerhouses like Russia and China are expected to dominate in Paris 2024, Spain, with its strategic approach and talented athletes like Tió and Ozhogina, is ready to challenge them.