What is the history of Synchronized Swimming?
While there is evidence of swimmers performing ballet-like maneuvers in ancient times, the origin of synchronized swimming as an organized, competitive sport only dates back to the late nineteenth century. The first competitions were held in Berlin, Germany in 1890 and involved only male performers. In 1907, the first female synchronized swimmer was Annette Kellerman who performed her water ballet inside a glass tank at the New York Hippodrome. In 1923, Katherine Curtis started the first water ballet club at the University of Chicago, called the Modern Mermaids. The most famous synchronized swimmer was the actress, Esther Williams. Ms. Williams, a U.S. freestyle champion and Olympic contender, portrayed Annette Kellermans life in the musical, Million Dollar Mermaid. She also performed in a string of MGM aqua musicals in the 1940s and 1950s, which inspired young girls everywhere to begin learning synchronized swimming. In the 1970s and 1980s, Ft. Lauderdale swimming champion, Charkie Ph
