The ladies having a go at Artistic Swimming at HBF Arena Joondalup
Aqua Skills ladies take on Artistic Swimming
A group of enthusiastic and energetic women in their 50s, 60s and 70s tried their hands (and arms and legs!) at the sport of artistic swimming last month! Artistic swimming – formerly known as synchronised swimming – combines swimming, dance and gymnastics into one amazing aquatic activity.
Artistic Swimming WA (ASWA), the governing body for artistic swimming in Western Australia, held a Seniors Artistic Swimming program during January along with several ‘Come and Try’ events to encourage more people to try out the sport. The program was supported by Healthway and offered an opportunity for senior Western Australians to have a go at the unique activity.
The Seniors Artistic Swimming program was run across three sessions at HBF Arena Joondalup on Monday 10th, Wednesday 12th, and Friday 14th January. Around 25 ladies attended each session, including some familiar faces from the Royal Life Saving WA Aqua Skills 55+ program.
Royal Life Saving WA Trainer and HBF Arena’s Acting Aquatic Operations Supervisor Isabel Franzoni, who runs some of the Aqua Skills 55+ classes, encouraged her senior students to join the artistic swimming program. Isabel has previously encouraged her older students to push themselves out of their comfort zones and achieve some awe-inspiring goals!
Convening at the deep end of HBF Arena’s Olympic indoor pool, the ladies were introduced to a variety of artistic swimming techniques and movements before putting their new skills together to develop and perform a routine. Camille Claudino, Development Officer at ASWA, led the Seniors program and said the ladies all had a great time.
“This was SO much fun! I definitely had a ball with the 60+ ladies! Everything I had planned to do with them in a week, they did in the first 15 minutes of the first lesson! Fun, artistic swimming skills, determination and a great laugh! They are keen to continue with the lessons as they want to learn more and do more of the inverted movements.”
Participating in swimming and water safety education programs like Swim and Survive and AquaSkills gives WA children and adults the important foundation skills that enables them to then try aquatic sports. Royal Life Saving WA is pleased to collaborate with partner orgnisations like Artistic Swimming WA and encourage this pathway and the opportunities it creates for West Australians.
ASWA is excited to provide opportunities for more people to participate in the sport of artistic swimming. If you’d like to get involved, attend a ‘Come and Try’ event or simply learn more about this one-of-a-kind sport, follow the link below!
