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BC Games and Team BC alumni reach the podium at 2023 Pan Am Games... Read more

BC SUMMER GAMES

Artistic Swimming

Karate made its Games debut at the Tofino 2000 BC Winter Games and has been a staple of the BC Games ever since.

Artistic Swimming BC Logo
Artistic swimmer smiles in the pool after finishing her routine.

Technical
Package

Technical Packages provide details of the eligibility requirements as well as event and competition information.

Provincial Sport
Organization

PSOs are the governing bodies for sports in B.C. and handle qualification, registration, and competition at the BC Games.

Frequently Asked
Questions

Have a question? We likely have the answer in our Frequently Asked Questions.

Participant
Information

Learn about qualification, registration, transportation, accommodation, food, and more.

The More You Know

Synchro BC is the provincial organization responsible for synchronized swimming from the recreational to competitive levels in the province.  See their website for more information – www.synchro.bc.ca.

History

Synchronized swimming combines techniques of swimming, gymnastics, and dance into a routine of elaborate moves in the water accompanied by music.  The sport developed from “water ballet” which was demonstrated at several world exhibitions at the turn of the century and grew in popularity with Esther Williams’ aqua musicals in the 1940s and 50s.  In 1954, Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) recognized synchronized swimming as an official aquatic sport and it debuted at the 1973 World Aquatic Championship and then at the Olympic Games in 1984.

Format

A typical competition consists of figures (which are a series of positions and transitions performed individually in front of judges) well as solos, duets, and team routines.  The competitive rules and manner of judging are similar to figure skating and gymnastics.  Technical and free routines are judged on two dimensions, technical merit and artistic impression.  The marks for technical merit and artistic impression are averaged to create a routine score and then added to the figure score to obtain a championship score.

Artistic Swimming at the BC Games

The BC Summer Games serves as a pre-cursor to develop athletes towards the Canada Winter Games. In Canada, synchronized swimming development is based streams which are divided into age groups. At the BC Summer Games athletes are in the Provincial or National Stream and compete in two age groups: 11-12 and 13-15.  All athletes compete in figures and at least one routine event.

Notable Alumni

Notable BC Games alumni include former national team member Sandy Gill.

Julia Johnson

Speed Skating 2006 BC Winter Games

Julia Johnson

Speed Skating 2006 BC Winter Games

Julia Johnson

Speed Skating 2006 BC Winter Games

Julia Johnson

Speed Skating 2006 BC Winter Games

Photography

Visit the BC Games Flickr account to view more photos of Karate from the Games.

Get Involved

Territory Acknowledgement

We respectfully acknowledge the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) People, also known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, and recognize that our work in this province spans the territories of more than 200 First Nations, as well as Métis and Inuit communities.