The Effects Induced by a Specific Program on the Development of Segmental Flexibility in Athletes Aged 7–14 in Synchronized Swimming

This research aims to expand the knowledge on the level of development of segmental flexibility, to girls aged 7–14 years, who practice synchronized swimming. The study includes 112 girls aged between 7 and 14 years, divided into groups on age, every two years, and on the period of synchronized swimming between 6 months and 42 months. The study focused on three body segments, namely: torso, hip, and shoulder. Segmental flexibility was assessed using 5 tests: standing trunk flexion, shoulder flexibility, Hip-split legs sideways, Hip-split antero-posterior with the right foot forward, and Hip-split antero-posterior with the left foot forward, performed in the gym. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS-24 software aiming at the following parameters: arithmetic means (X), standard deviation (SD), minimum (Min), maximum (Max), CI–95% Confidence Interval for Mean with the two lower and upper marks, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for testing the normality of data distribution and a multifactor ANOVA analysis, using the F test. The most significant improvements highlighted by the differences between initial and final were for: the shoulder flexibility test in the 13–14 years’ groups; flexibility of the spine registered the biggest difference between the 9–10 years’ group; for hip-split legs sideways the biggest difference was between 9–10 years’ group and 13–14 years and 9–10 years, too. The hip-split antero-posterior tests with the left and also, for right foot forward, showed the biggest differences between tests for 13–14 age groups. The development of joint flexibility has an upward evolution, being conditioned by the age of the practitioners and by the operating methodology specific to synchronized swimming. The longer the training period, the greater the premises for the development of segmental flexibility.

Naval Events and Aquacades

Roman water spectacle took several forms. The literary sources favour bloody spectacles featuring condemned criminals and prisoners of war. In theatres or amphitheatres, the orchestra or arena might be flooded and convicts forced to play the parts of well-known mythic heroes facing mortal danger in some Greek tale with a ‘watery’ theme. Larger naval battle shows, called naumachiae, took place rarely, and almost exclusively at Rome, in specially designed basins. These pitted two teams in mortal naval combat, complete with custom-built ships and real weapons. Less commonly described, but frequently staged, was the hydromime—water pageantry taking numerous forms, such as synchronized swimming, mimed sketches of popular myths, and other kinds of light entertainment. There is little evidence that any form of Roman water spectacle had precursors in the Greek world, but the naumachia may bear a distant relationship to Athenian ephebic boating competitions first attested in the fourth century bce.

Features of the use of sports dances in the field of physical culture and sports

The popularity of sports dances continues to grow every year. It was found that today sports dances and their elements are actively used in physical education of preschoolers, schoolchildren and students. The adult population of the country is also involved in this sport. Popular are various dance clubs and hobby classes, which are open to people of all ages. The article identifies the main directions and features of the use of sports dances and their elements in the field of physical culture and sports. The programs and methods of application of elements of dance preparation in physical education of preschool children and schoolboys are considered. A significant number of techniques are aimed at developing physical abilities and improving the health of children. The use of the programs developed by the authors promotes harmonious physical development, attention development, improvement and optimization of the educational process of physical culture in secondary schools, the formation of motivation for physical education, the development of diverse harmonious personality, improving the physical condition of school children. The ways of improving the educational and training process and various aspects of the training of dancers are outlined both through the development of leading specific physical qualities and technical training. An important task in planning the process of physical training is the rational determination of priority areas at each stage of sports improvement. The importance of choreographic training in complex coordination sports, such as acrobatics, rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, sports aerobics, figure skating, diving, trampoline exercises is substantiated. It was found that choreographic training in sport dances includes a system of exercises and methods of influence aimed at educating the motor culture of dancers, to expand the arsenal of means of expression.

Synchronized Swimming in Ontario, 1920–50s: Gender, Beauty, and Sport

This article examines the history of synchronized swimming in Ontario, with a specific focus on Peterborough, between the 1920s and the 1950s. Two factors explain the rise and consolidation of “synchro” as a women’s sport in the period. The first factor relates to earlier changes in women’s sport in the interwar period, alongside the rise of modern hegemonic beauty culture. As synchro struggled for official recognition, coaches and swimmers embraced feminine beauty constructs to generate popularity for their sport. The second factor relates to the nationalistic approach to sport development in the 1940s and 1950s. Financial and ideological investment in sport as important for national health and physical fitness allowed synchro to grow and flourish. As exemplified by the Peterborough club, these two factors allowed Canadian women to play a formative role in the national and international development of synchro as a sport to produce fit and beautiful bodies.

A Mathematical Approach to Modeling Physics for the Vertical Position in Synchronized Swimming

In Synchronized Swimming, arguably the most demanding sport known to man, one of the most basic positions is called a vertical. In this position a swimmer’s upper body is submerged in water and their legs are held above the surface while their body is kept in a straight line. Along with the buoyancy forces of the surrounding water and the air in the lungs, swimmers must also support themselves by making movements called sculls with their arms that propel them upwards. This additional force is the applied force. The goal of this research is to use physics principles to create a mathematical model that will help assist synchronized swimmers in maximizing their scores for the vertical position. The math done in this model confirmed that the amount of applied force inversely correlates with the buoyancy force needed to lift the synchronized swimmer out of the water. Additionally, the total force pushing the synchronized swimmer upwards is the same at each level. When the collected data is fitted to a second-order polynomial comparing applied sculling force to desired score, the graph shows that the data had an R2 fit of 0.984. This knowledge could ultimately inform athletes about how to use buoyancy and other forces to their advantage which could increase their performance levels.

The Response to the Training Load in the Aquatic Environment in Terms of the Stimulation of the Reflective Capabilities of Elite Synchronized Swimmers

SummaryThe youngest swimming sport included in the Summer Olympic Games since 1984 is synchronized swimming. Since the synchronized swimming is still growing popularity and professionalization, it is important to search for ways to improve sports performance. There are few scientific studies focusing also on the biological and motor indicators of top athletes. The present study examined biological and motor variables of elite synchronized swimmers (SYN, N = 13) in ages of 16.5 ± 3.23 years and compare the frequency of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) gene genotypes among elite female synchronized swimmers and the non-athletic control group (CON, N = 30) in ages of 16.0 ± 0.6 years. The motor variables were measured using Optojump system before and after water training session. All measurements were collected by trained data collection staff. The ACE I/D variation differences between groups were identified by Chi-Square test. The results of motor variables obtained were evaluated statistically using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. The strength of association between selected biological and motor variables was measured by Spearman’s correlation. We provided evidence for significant differences of variation of the ACE I/D polymorphism between observed groups. A significant correlation among biological and motor parameters of SYN was demonstrated among the percentage of fat and the time of reflection (p = 0.042), the basal resting heart rate and the jump height (p = 0.006) and among the basal resting heart rate and the power (p = 0.012). The SYN significantly increased only their contact time in jumping (p < 0.016) after the training session. Based on the results we state that the effect of intervention in the stimulation of the reflective capabilities due to the training session in the aquatic environment was not confirmed in the study.

Effects of Wearing a Jaw-repositioning Intra-oral Device in Synchronized Swimming Athletes

The effects of wearing an intra-oral device on several ventilatory and fatigue markers have been reported for a variety of sports. The quality of the figures performed in synchronized swimming is directly affected by fatigue, and can be monitored during training sessions (TS). The aim of the study was to investigate the acute effects of wearing customized intra-oral devices on heart rate variability, rating of perceived exertion, blood lactate accumulation, and salivary cortisol production during a competitive training session. Twelve highly trained elite female athletes (age: 21.0±3.6 years) participated in the study. Fatigue markers were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the 3rd and 5th afternoon TS for that week, once with and once without an intra-oral device, in random order. Salivary cortisol levels were higher in relation to the baseline in the intra-oral device condition (P<0.05) but not in athletes without an intra-oral device. No differences between conditions were found in rating of perceived exertion (P=0.465) and blood lactate (P=0.711). No time or condition interactions or main effects were shown for heart rate variability. Thus, there is no evidence that wearing a low-arch intra-oral device is a good recommendation for high-standard athletes performing long and stressful routines.

The use of synchronized swimming exercises in the process of students physical education

The article presents an analysis of the motives, needs, interests, beliefs and students valuable orientations to the physical culture and sport. The study showed that it is necessary to modernize the process of physical education and improve some educational programs in high school. The ability to swim is a professional and applied skill in the structure of pedagogical specialties professional competencies. In order to improve applied swimming skills, as well as to maintain the interest of University students in physical education, a technology for training and improving swimming skills was developed. A set of available synchronized swimming exercises was selected and included in the program of the elective discipline “Physical culture and sports, in the course “Swimming”. Two groups were selected: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group trains with use available means of synchronized swimming. The control group exercise by the generally accepted method. The experiment lasted for one academic year (2017-2018). The classes were held once a week, for 2 academic hours: 45 minutes – a lesson in the hall and 45 minutes – on the water. The experimental group’s students showed results significantly superior to the results of control group’s students in all indicators of swimming fitness. The study shows the possibility of using a large arsenal of synchronized swimming tools to improve the swimming skills of University students.

Janet Biggs

This is the first substantive career interview with installation artist Janet Biggs. Biggs discusses her motivation for making installations, rather than theatrical films, and the different ways in which moviegoers and visitors to installations experience moving image art. Biggs describes her experiences traveling to the ends of the earth to record compelling imagery in the Arctic, at a sulfur-mining operation inside a volcano in Indonesia, and in the Afar triangle region of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti, Her many wide-ranging conceptual videos explore various forms of physical labor and athletic endeavor from football to water ballet and synchronized swimming to NASCAR, as well as the mysteries of Alzheimer’s disease and attempts to break the on-land speed record.