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It is the new face of synchronised swimming, aimed at changing
the image of a sport long derided as flailing limbs, splashing
water and fluffy water ballet done to florid classical music,
and it dominated the Tokyo Games competition.
"Until 2019, we just swam classical music," said Eirini
Alexandri, who with her identical twin sister performed the
chilling evil doll duet routine for Austria, their suits bearing
a threatening face.
"So we said OK, we have to change style."
The sport's official name was also changed to "artistic
swimming" in 2017 by international swimming organisation FINA as
part of a rebranding attempt.
The sport is a blend of muscle and grace. Swimmers have to hold
their breath for extended periods underwater, swim in tight,
intricate patterns in synchronisation with music, make eye
contact with judges - and have it all look easy.
There are costs, with swimmers known to faint.
U.S. athlete Anita Alvarez briefly lost consciousness at the end
of her routine at a qualifier in Barcelona this summer and had
to be pulled from the water. She and her duet partner appeared
at Tokyo but did not make it to the finals.
Swimmers collide in practice, leading to bruises, bloody noses
and worse. The sport also sees high rates of concussion.
Though the results were predictable - Russian athletes continued
a golden sweep unbroken since Sydney 2000, with China close
behind - other changes were notable.
Music ranged from a scattering of classical to hip-hop, rap and
a tune from a virtual singer, while routines went from
light-hearted to edgy.
On Saturday, Spain's routine was "evolution," complete with
dinosaur-like spines on the back of the team's suits, while
other teams expressed international unity or the relationship
between mankind and nature.
"We changed our tech team music to something really upbeat,"
Australian swimmer Emily Rogers said after scoring a team
technical best with a routine to "Tokyo Drift," by the Japanese
hip-hop group "Teriyaki Boyz."
"So maybe that was another reason why it's been our best score
yet - because it's so much fun."
(Reporting by Elaine Lies and Mayu Sakoda; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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