Artistic Swimming Score

Artistic swimming scoring

Here is how FINA Artistic Swimming scoring works (the sport dropped "synchronized" for "artistic" in 2017): Score = (Technical × 0.4) + (Artistic × 0.6) + Difficulty. Technical/Execution and Artistic Impression are each marked 0-10 by panels of 5 plus 5 judges. Difficulty, since the 2023 reform, runs on open element-based scoring.

The events run from solo and duet to team (8 swimmers), highlight, combo and mixed duet. CBDA (Confederação Brasileira de Desportos Aquáticos) organizes the Brazilian championships. The sport joined the Olympic program in 1984, and Russia ran the table from 2000 to 2020. The 2024 rules put more weight on acrobatics and difficulty, which played into the hands of China, the US and Spain. Bia Liebscher took a historic silver in 2003.

Applications

Competition judging under World Aquatics (the renamed FINA), CBDA event organization, coaches working out choreography, Olympic qualification, and ESPN/Globo TV broadcasts.

FAQ

Why renamed? The 2017 rebrand was meant to highlight the artistry rather than just the synchrony, and it matched the naming already used at FINA congresses.

Men allowed? Yes. The mixed duet arrived in 2015, and men have competed in some teams since Paris 2024, up to 2 per team.

Hold breath how long? Top swimmers spend 2-3 minutes underwater across a routine, surfacing here and there, and lifeguards are always poolside.