Synchronised swimming is a growing sport in this country with the number of swimmers and clubs involved increasing nationally.

Synchro is also now accepted internationally as a spectator sport, being one of the first events to sell out at the Olympic games.

Competitive synchro swimmers must be extremely fit, and completely at home in the water. When tested and compared with other Olympic athletes the results showed that synchro swimmers ranked second only to long distance runners in aerobic capacity, and to gymnasts in flexibility. They must be strong yet graceful, interested in music sufficiently to be able to choose and interpret pieces of routines, and have stamina and determination.

In order to achieve the standard needed for competition, swimmers must train with speed swimmers in distance work. Sessions are devoted to working on 'figures' - the set body positions and transition movements which form the basis of synchro.

In addition, hours are spent working on routines. Swimmers work with partners for duet routines or in teams of between 4 and 8 swimmers, perfecting movements, developing the choreography of the routines etc.

Landwork sessions include working on flexibility, strength and weight training, also creating, walking through and learning routines, listening to music and so on.