Water Polo Players Try Synchronized Swimming | SELF

We challenged a group of water polo players to try to keep up with synchronized swimmers. These athletes take the ultimate test and see if their technique, strength, and coordination are enough to keep up with the pros!
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Water Polo Players Try Synchronized Swimming | SELF

[@carmelyn]

“When do we take our breath?” “You don’t” HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@serenitygrant8127]

@my choir teacher

[@QCRonsyn]

Oxygen is overrated lol

[@Omgits7ito]

😂😂😂

[@demothewikigod6297]

Lost count how many times I drowned trying to keep up 😭😭😂😂

[@bunnydraws18]

I can totally relate because my coach says that too

[@miavergari1631]

Most people have no idea how difficult it is to tread that high out of the water, these ladies are goddesses

[@ElizaShakiraMassani]

I can barely tread water lol

[@Vyed]

it just takes a little bit of practice the hard part is holding yourself up

[@monicaweiss8281]

yes they are

[@joyformercy9627]

Nah. Once you've been swimming for a minute (and assuming your not just one of those naturally inclined to sink) you pick it up easy

[@evaggelia8815]

@@joyformercy9627 not really but ok

[@maithilym4717]

The synchronised swimmers move like octopuses, it's beautiful.

[@sophiajia2972]

is...that a compliment? lmao

[@maithilym4717]

@@sophiajia2972 i find octopuses mesmerising...so...yeah..

[@jessicasharpe1925]

octopi...ahem. ; p

[@daisyvasquez1282]

Maithily m thanks for the compliment I guess? 😂

[@maithilym4717]

@@daisyvasquez1282 im just really fascinated. I don't know how to express that 🙇

[@GriffithFemJesus]

Sports that are considered "feminine" are usually dismissed and considered easier, unfortunately, when they are actually usually very technically complex.

[@jennifer__e]

god i rmr how ppl would make fun of ballet but those dancers have thick thighs and are so buff... it’s unfortunate but i think ppl are becoming more aware that “girly” sports are no less demanding than male dominated ones

[@marieke6363]

Yeah totally...same with dressage riding or show jumping

[@crystalberandom8354]

Just like with lacrosse they are different for girls and boys are learned that in grade 9 gotta say I still question why

[@paxtoncargill4661]

I just generally don't get why someone would completely dedicate themselves to a sport. It makes sense for sports with money in it like football, basketball, baseball ect. But who in their right mind would want to go into something like track if it's not just to get into a university. Maybe it's just that I don't value sports, or maybe I just see them in a utilitarian perspective.

[@GriffithFemJesus]

@@paxtoncargill4661 Athletes dedicate themselves to a sport because they love it that much, they're passionate about it and they can make it their source of living. Not everyone's goal is being rich, most people just want to do what makes them happy. Think about how many people make less than athletes and still have to wake up every morning to do a job they don't even like.

[@viella90]

A girl in my highschool did synchronised swimming on a European level. Outside of almost daily training with the team she also went to the pool every morning before school to just swim a few kilometres. She had huge shoulders but was also super graceful. I always had the utmost respect for how much discipline she had.

[@landoblu]

Viella explain European level ?

[@viella90]

@@landoblu like compete in international competitions in the EU

[@zoolucinka]

Yeah, I remember my classmates that were in figure skating. It was basically the same discipline, hit the rink before school, after school, ballet classes, gym, endurance, then homework and repeat all over again.

[@bru_lz]

oh that "we're competing in Tokyo 2020" hit me hard.. poor girls

[@angelicmercenary]

Now they are competing in 2021

[@Wont_wood]

@@angelicmercenary what it's still 2020 🤣

[@angelicmercenary]

@@Wont_wood huh?

[@angelicmercenary]

@@Wont_wood they are now having the olympics in 2021

[@exonambawan4467]

@@angelicmercenary yeah in 2021 but its still called tokyo olympic 2020

[@johnpeterchua6148]

As a filmmaker, I recognize how hard it is to cover and shoot this episode, especially with all the water footage! Super props to the prod team behind it!

[@fenestrapain]

I was thinking about that with the audio! And all the underwater shots. All these videos are tight productions, but yeah this one is a whole nother level.

[@HimanXK]

@@fenestrapain the beach one I think was similarly impressive

[@goliaboi]

Really wish they would've pulled back when they were shooting them do the thing.

[@cassie4965]

I dont think its that hard for dancers to film this sort of stuff, i wish more filmmakers were dancers bc I see filmmakers struggle with dance shots often

[@LynnAMV]

Having worked with my water polo team, it’s impressive how the shots are taken!

[@shynekrishiacervantes8054]

Cant even imagine their lung capacity

[@crossref233]

@Ellemae Fahning wait r u serious

[@jennifergeorge7280]

I used to do 75 m. It's just practice.

[@jofx4051]

@@jennifergeorge7280 👀👀👀

[@heatherlory99]

@Ellemae Fahning I can swim a 50 with one breath.

[@donbags5542]

My kids practiced polo in the same pool as the same time as synchro girls. I watched a synchro practice when the girls had to swim 25m and back with one leg straight up whilst their heads underwater the whole time...couldn't believe it!.

[@starlinashepard6331]

I just don't understand how they can just talk normally as they tread water, especially with just using their legs. I would've literally gotten out of breath after 30 seconds.

[@Cloudy4Days]

It just takes practice, I'm a competitive swimmer who used to teach swim lessons. When we went to the deep end I would tread water (switching between just using my legs to arms) for long periods at a time sometimes while holding a kid helping them!!

[@ukuleleuser5517]

I’m a life guard. On one of the tests you had to tread water with only your legs for five minutes

[@Xloi63]

I'm a swimming instructor and spend about half of my six hour shifts treading in the deep water while teaching, adjusting the kids' movements, etc.

[@emmasiddy1270]

im a synchronized swimmer and its easy. eggbeater is our rest

[@gwennieluvsnothing]

i’m a competitive swimmer. i’ve been swimming since i was four, and i learned to swim as soon as i could walk. so i can’t imagine having any trouble treading water. but it just takes practice, i’ve helped assistant coach and i’ve seen little kids have trouble with it all the time.

[@causticks4532]

dude the water polo girls are so buff thats sick

[@stevie56565]

right!!!! Their tummy's are so darn flat... Uhhhh to be young again!

[@ryleybailey8612]

our training is very extensive 😂 i am ripped

[@sparksfly5877]

I would’ve thought they were gymnasts or something

[@ryleybailey8612]

Cheesecake For Life yes we do

[@alistairt7544]

Seriously, I was admiring their physique. It's lean and elongated.

[@momojo4264]

When that girl said they were playing water polo in 2020 I was like yeah surrrrreeee

[@zinataraaa]

Momo Jo me too 😩😂😂

[@JeredN1nja]

ashleigh is the #1 water polo keeper

[@CHOROUKROH]

Oh my god i feel soo evil

[@Maddie-hh4ut]

It sucks

[@monicaweiss8281]

same

[@lskier1025]

FINALLY!! A video that shows the actual difficulty of synchro, everyone is always thinking that us swimmers just stand on the bottom of the pool and do handstands and stuff

[@Cristinact]

Well, you can watch the underwater takes since Rio I think

[@Eva-qv4ii]

People think it’s easy? I died when I was in syncro classes!

[@charmagne2102]

@@solryn I would just float, if I was pooped out. If I had to choose a sport to kill myself during the workout and discipline, it would be synchro.

[@na3rial]

The synchronized swimmers, when the tread water, their shoulders are always above water! That’s so insane

[@nanakasasaisaki3327]

naerial legs r most important strong legs mean everything

[@commanderhedgehog590]

Also, you have to have a lot of stamina and enduranc to be able to stay up that long

[@nanakasasaisaki3327]

Commander Hedgehog not me....

[@commanderhedgehog590]

Nanaka Sasaisaki I guess this doesn’t apply for everyone, but for me at least, I need a lot of stamina and endurance, which helps keep my shoulders above the water, so yea ^^||

[@umbrellatime]

Commander Hedgehog well the more you do it the easier it gets so you don’t have to use as much energy focusing on that

[@undetestable1]

I realize this is stating the obvious but the fact that everything needs to be synchronized makes this twice as hard as it would be otherwise. They could master any complex move but it wouldnt matter if they were not in sync with eachother. Great video, really entertaining!

[@allisonjames2923]

Especially when there are 8 of them! 😳

[@bellevoor]

I kinda love how easily they LAUNCHED their teammate out of the water

[@alistairt7544]

Gosh, it's like non-stop cardio them moving their legs like that.

[@Rainswife_]

as an ex synchronized swimmer i can tell that syncronized swimming is one of the hardest watersports out there

[@aimes8202]

jera mulaj What club?

[@Rainswife_]

@@aimes8202 It's a club in Belgium but it's not a professional club so you couldn't know it.

[@qp3696]

jera mulaj I agree, right after that is definitely swimming

[@TiredSunflower]

jera mulaj sameee

[@nivara.w.3421]

Yea...

[@iidrxprxses99]

Watching them swim during quarantine makes me wanna swim in my bathtub. Im a swimmer and this is so hard to watch and resisiting :((

[@oliviapaisley4581]

iidrxp rxses i feel that :(

[@musicmixr16allison]

That’s actually been a joke synchro trend right now. People jumping into their tubs and piking out to practice their routines.

[@why8441]

I love to go fishing but I don’t know how to swim

[@momiji4651]

I feel the same

[@annedolan2493]

I’m sorry but the thing that came to mind was the anime Free

[@iseetheWAYVision]

Synchronized Swimming is fricken hard... I've never tried it but .... Physics

[@hauntedshadowslegacy2826]

Yeah, anything that requires you to spit in the face of physics is tough.

[@user98438]

Ya let’s say it is NOT easy, but as you keep going you get really go 🍄✨❤️

[@margauxmongin4197]

Yeah I do synchronized swimming it’s so hard

[@rosedavis6549]

I’ve just realised they’re treading water whilst the explanations are happening 🤯🥴

[@IrenaDeacon]

Lol well it has to happen otherwise they wud sink lol

[@iraworang]

Water treading alone is already exhausting and they are making conversation all those time 😂

[@celiaw7125]

Our coach made us do laps while doing it - hands up out the water. We would do pattycake all the way with each other to make the time go a bit faster. Effective but ouch.

[@ministryand3fs885]

I think it's great that this video has both African American water polo player and synchronized swimmer to help inspire all POCs.. showing that it can be done despite stereotypes

[@benja1378]

That it can be done despite the racism telling you otherwise, yes!! ❤️

[@phedreBiOn]

I'm black and I don't need to see black people doing something to know I can do it.

[@fakecubed]

Being impressed by minorities doing ordinary things is racist.

[@christineabegailcastillo9983]

but can we appreciate how fast learners these water polo girls are 😍

[@allisonjames2923]

The second girl is a great instructor! Explains clearly, breaks it down, lots of reassurance & praise. And the water polo players did an incredible job. Watched some synchronised swimming yesterday & it has to be the toughest sport out there. They all have their challenges, but they are never allowed to touch the bottom of the pool, they have to sync with up to 7 other people, and they have to smile the whole time!

[@alicialee6647]

Synchronized swimming is much harder than it seems. I actually joined the Santa Clara Aquamaids for about two years and it was so much more difficult than I thought. Other than the aspects of flexibility, strength, and performance, it is also super hard to hold your breath for an actual full routine. We did "unders" to train our lungs, which is basically just swimming underwater without taking a breath. Unfortunately, I no longer do synchro, but my respect for these athletes and the sport have definitely grown.

[@mena94x3]

I’ve always been so amazed at what synchro swimmers can do without ever touching the bottom of the pool and with such inhuman precision in water. Amazing.

[@DanielleEmma]

Thank you for such an amazing opportunity 🙏 I had so much fun working with everyone.

[@user98438]

I just wanna say I love that you have been doing synchro for so long, and that your teaching other people, you inspire me to keep on going because its been really tough lately, but thank you! ✨🍄❤️

[@DanielleEmma]

@@user98438 your comment made my day, thank you!! Keep pushing through love :) you've made it this far, you can keep going.

[@nancyglezhdez]

You’re amazing, you were a joy to watch in this video!!

[@CityscapeMuse]

Hilariously the girl who said she couldn't point her leg seemed to do best with form and precision ^_^ I love water sports ~

[@beccakreidler8290]

Absolutely!

[@jonilynn8918]

The fact that the water polo girls can already eggbeater is a HUGE advantage. When my daughter started synchro it took her like a year to get the eggbeater down. But once you get good at it, you can tread water FOREVER like that.

[@tracyndlovu9717]

So they've been doing it for 16/20 years but they barely look 23 max🤯

[@alexissjodin5636]

Tracy Ndlovu that’s because they start at like 4/5 years old

[@landoblu]

They start very young

[@eddierich6179]

None of these women look that young to me. They all look about my age, I would say that they are 28-32. I started playing water polo at age 11, in the 6th grade... if I had kept playing then I also would have been playing that long as well.

[@zabcal75]

That surprised me too. 😂

[@beccakreidler8290]

This has been true the whole series. Everyone, except for 2 of the Parkour instructors, look like they started at 4.

[@milosavpavlovic7548]

As a guy who practiced waterpolo for 20 years, I was allways impressed with syncronized swimmers, because I know its sooo hard you can not imagine.

[@isiahhilton3605]

You guys should do swimmers and divers

[@julianakarasawa315]

Gymnasts and divers would be better, I think. The skillset is closer - I have a friend that's an Olympic diver and she does a lot of gymnastics for training when she is not in the pool

[@allisonwildeman4789]

I am a swimmer and a Diver so it should be swimmers and runners or divers and gymnasts.

[@EllaleahEnchanted]

Erin Lederer omg that would be sooo cool! I’m a swimmer and nobody takes us seriously!😂

[@sarahluty7083]

@Erin Lederer I was a swimmer and a runner in high school. On some of our off days in cross country, we would do a pool workout. It was always hilarious. Most of the best runners were terrible swimmers 😂

[@gabrielamata3610]

I do both I live with water in my ears daily

[@jbeta4948]

Synchronized swimming: ballerina, gymnast, swimmer, yoga expert, and scuba diver combined in one

[@jonimccalla]

Have tremendous respect for synchronize swimmers these ladies do all of those tricks and NEVER touch the bottom of the pool, like that’s not hard enough while trying to be in sync with a bunch of other ladies. HUGE RESPECT! The human body is truly amazing

[@skg069]

I love these videos. It's really fun to see people try something a little out of their usual element but similar enough that they bring some confidence to it and are able to grasp the concepts.

[@queenofnevers6990]

who else goes mad when someone says that synchronized swimming iS NoT a SPorT?

[@user98438]

ME! Like I dare you to try it, I DARE you! 😂

[@wzwzwz]

Me, with almost every artistic sport (gymnastics, diving, dancesport, etc.)

[@marymiller8370]

Awesome seeing these very strong and athletic women

[@TabithaHolland_]

This is such a fun series to watch!!

[@edawnc9500]

All of them are such likeable people. 😊

[@nvm7742]

This looks like underwater cheerleading 😂😂

[@nataliaopazo1910]

I thought the same thing! I'd love to see cheerleaders try synchronized swimming lol

[@aishatoure5788]

@@nataliaopazo1910 this will be sooooooo cool!! And vice-versa

[@coco-zp6rn]

Imo its so much harder. The routine they learned in this video was at a 11 and under level, even the lift.

[@ninamariehart4357]

Having done both for 20 years, synchro would be closer to cheerleading upside down without breathing, but no. Cheerleading has nothing on synchro. Absolutely nothing.

[@AT-sx2jp]

Nina Marie Hart depends on the level you’re competing either sport.

[@gladitsnotme]

This is like waterbending, that scoop motion to stay in one spot underwater.

[@user-xr5xo7ec4q]

As a synchronous swimmer I'm really happy that people see this sport the real way it is and they are very positive comments thank you^^

[@lizziewalker9374]

I love watching these challenges. Both sports are amazing to watch and I feel really underrated. Good job to the US Olympic Water Polo team. Can't wait to see them once we can hold the Olympics again.

[@mena94x3]

I don’t know how long they practiced, I’m guessing a couple hours, so I’m super impressed at how well they did!! Well done ladies! Now. Synchro teachers play water polo!

[@lucyseger4177]

This is legit the best series! Can't wait to see more!!!

[@tanishagirl]

I smiled the whole way through! These girls are not only incredibly athletic, they also have an amazing attitude and know how to have a good time.

[@sawyer3202]

What I love about the Try to Keep Up! series is their participants. I love how patient and willing they are to learn other sport.

[@burythecastle97]

Love this series! The participants always have such good attitudes and positivity

[@bayareasynchro-artisticswi3134]

Awesome!! So proud of these artistic swim coaches! (formerly synchronized swimming). Coach Danielle used to train our athletes with disabilities in artistic swimming. She is amazing and great choice along with Coach Patrice and Coach Jokabeth. Thanks for making our sport look cool.

[@rachelpresser7794]

this is so good! and the water polo players had such a natural transition into the body boosts! so effortless

[@lilacahill160]

I am a synchronized swimmer and the sport is overlooked

[@iaretagi]

these ladies are all seriously adorable and also command some real respect it's awesome

[@TheAmazingHuman]

Synchronized swimming is INSANE. So incredibly athletic and beautiful.

[@DMH_701]

I wish the camera pulled out and let us see all 3 of them at the same time so we could actually see the synchronicity

[@meu4972]

Water Polo is such an under-appreciated sport yikes..it’s actually super exciting to watch and it’s one of the hardest.

[@dcsynchromasters2037]

Thanks for showcasing our sport! Water polo players definitely have the stamina and leg strength for synchro. Holding out breath and building flexibility does take a lot of time. That at the core muscles required to hold your legs up out of the water

[@hayley4344]

My last high school synchro season was cancelled and it’s so nice to see this. It makes me miss swimming even more

[@TiredSunflower]

Hayley Heiss same

[@VS-dw1zj]

Yeah, mine was, too. It’s nice to see the synchro community here, though

[@nothereforit.605]

I always thought synchronized swimming was beyond stupid and though they were just flopping around at the same time but the technique, the skill, the stamina. I have respect for it. This video has nothing to do with that but it just showcases it more.

[@briannadau]

I really really love this series so much! So cool to see all the different athletes try other sports and switch

[@jessface777]

It's nice to see ppl new to the sport try it..then you can understand a bit better how difficult it must be. The ladies are all so sweet too.

[@hannahreekstin8944]

i play wp & i always see the sychro girls a couple lanes over & it's insane how graceful they are even tho u could tell it's hard

[@ngohpx]

I love this series so much!

[@ninamariehart4357]

It’s always refreshing to see videos accurately portraying the true difficulty of my sport!

[@tuhopesanddreams3618]

I could literally feel my muscles tense up when they were treading water because I'm so bat at it!

[@QCRonsyn]

As a synchro swimmer, I’m so happy to have found this video

[@michelacambareri6119]

I love this, it is so fun and shows how much goes being synchronised swimming!

[@kendelldesmarais7565]

as someone who has done both of these sports this video makes me so happy 😁

[@highkeynike]

absolutely loved the energy of everybody in this video

[@celiaw7125]

They need more "And smile big!" The whole time even if you are dying

[@bfp909]

This is the best series I’ve seen in a veeeery long while omg the episodes are amazing

[@ShadowMancer97]

“We’re gonna be competing in Tokyo for 2020” Oof

[@mariafinklea9819]

Synchronized swimming is a Beautiful sport.So fun to watch.They deserve respect because i know its hard and takes alot of practice.

[@dylanoro9473]

These athletes are just so humble. Then they go woah!

[@lauratae3878]

this just reminds me of how much I miss swimming... :,)

[@tamarclark428]

Are you a Harry Styles fan ?

[@lauratae3878]

Tamar Clark yess! directioner since 2010 :)

[@tamarclark428]

@@lauratae3878 i cant wait till they get back together I think its going to be interesting to see like how they will go about that cause they all have quite different styles in music and even fashion if you know what im saying

[@tamarclark428]

I love them all so much 😍

[@lauratae3878]

Tamar Clark yeah i understand, but i don't think they'll be getting back together :/ maybe a reunion live stream or something like that... honestly i'm just tired of clowning for these fools ahhaha (don't get me wrong, i love them)

[@LoriMae]

Could Ashleigh Johnson’s smile be any more infectious?!

[@Purelight1960]

Love it. My sister and I played at being synchronized swimmers when we were kids. A combination of strength, grace and endurance.💖

[@xNaiadesx]

Why did they film so close? :( i wish we could see all of them together during training

[@qwertyboo]

Love this series! Keep it up!

[@michellekoot3303]

I am a synchronized swimmer so this is really fun to watch!

[@amandala00]

When I was a child watching the olympics, I told my mom that I was going to be a synchronized swimmer lol. It's so clean, concise, together and beautiful. You go girls!!!🥇

[@qwertyboo]

They did so well!!!

[@cottoncandygacha5525]

Synchronized swimmers are so elegant and graceful and its amazing

[@youtubecommenter37]

Lmaooooo this is like asking ice hockey players to figure skate 🤣

[@faithf.7114]

I'm an intermediate synchronized swimmer and my team hasn't met since the pandemic and this is giving me so much nostalgia it's unreal

[@categilroy871]

When the girl said we are playing in the 2020 Olimpics I was like not anymore your not 😂

[@fatimamouhou9654]

They did in 2021

[@The7thAdam]

The difference in the way they thread water is ridiculously amazing.

[@katherinepoltoratzky6068]

We need more of these! Maybe tennis players try badminton or synchronized swimmers try water polo!!

[@shockingheaven]

This is so cool. One of my older aunts practiced synchronized swimming and it looked beautiful yet complex

[@shelski101]

This was great!!! thanks so much for sharing...impressive :)

[@stavroulag.5413]

I do synchronized swimming since i was 10 and believe me it's wayyyyy more difficult than it seems

[@chriscoates2399]

Always thought the women who do synchronised swimming are good , Ballet in water amazing fitness and skills . Was good to see these girls having a go

[@hollyfraser3926]

Girl with the red cap, you were so graceful and beautiful! Don't doubt yourself. As a water polo player who dabbled in ballet I always wanted to try synchronized swimming.

[@serpentmaster1323]

I love this video. It feel like friends just hanging out at the pool and it’s super chill, but at the same time these are olympic level athletes and nearly everyone watching couldn’t even come close to what they do. (Actually Im not sure “nearly, I see a lot of people who say they do synchro in the comments, and I count that as coming close to what they do (in terms of ‘all the things that can be done’, not in terms of competition level))

[@amandakindt7178]

Ayeee those are my coaches!! 💖😎

[@lindarfleete4443]

These challenges are so much fun. Thank you all for sharing your fun experiences.

[@9290SC]

I cannot swim, but this is hands down my favorite sport. Underrated!!

[@LL-zk2ny]

I applaud the water polo players for willing to understand the sport of synchronized swimming. The ladies did great and could be better with more practice. You go gals!

[@aimes8202]

The wp girls did really good!

[@lulu4018]

any other synchro swimmers watching this and missing not training cause of quarantine?😔💔

[@alanaliu1116]

I miss it so much :(

[@emmasiddy1270]

i miss it:/ it was my last year junior so i wanna finish on a good note in senior next year

[@username4261]

Emma Siddy best of luck!!

[@sleeplesshead602]

I already exhausted just by watching this 😂 imagine talking while swimming. That energy tho