U.S. artistic swimmers dazzle with viral ‘Smooth Criminal’ routine, win 1st Olympic medal in 20 years

The U.S. artistic swimming team finally earned a medal after two decades, thanks to their remarkable performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The team’s technical routine to Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” featured an impressive underwater moonwalk, with their feet above the water as they moved upside down.

After winning silver, the American squad expressed their joy on TODAY.com, calling it a dream come true.

“It feels incredible,” U.S. swimmer Daniela Ramirez said alongside the rest of the U.S. artistic swimming team, adding that the experience meant everything to the team and that she had never been part of a group as special as theirs.

She also shared her gratitude for representing their country.

This silver medal is particularly meaningful for Anita Alvarez, competing in her third Olympics after a fainting incident at the 2022 FINA World Aquatic Championships.

She reflected on her journey, from her early days to missing out on Tokyo and the 2022 accident.

“I’m just so happy to be here with this team and leaving with a silver medal is just a cherry on top,” she said.

Audrey Kwon found it rewarding to see their two years of hard work pay off.

“It took two years of hard work, a lot of trust between the teammates and Dani, my base, a lot of help from her. So, just a lot of hard work really paid off,” she said.

The U.S. artistic swimming team also performs a complex cheer before their routines, almost as challenging as the routines themselves.

Savannah Guthrie remarked, “If there were a medal for cheers,” while applauding.

History of Artistic Swimming, formerly known as ‘Synchronized Swimming’

Synchronized swimming, originally known as water ballet, began in the late 19th century, with early competitions held in Berlin, according to Aquabatix.

The sport gained prominence with Annette Kellerman’s 1907 performance in New York, followed by Canadian women developing “ornamental swimming.”

Katherine Curtis played a key role in formalizing the sport at the University of Chicago and introducing the term “synchronized swimming” at the 1933 Century of Progress World’s Fair.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Esther Williams popularized synchronized swimming through Hollywood films.

The sport officially entered the Olympics as a demonstration event in 1960. It became an Olympic discipline in Sydney in 2000, featuring duet and team routines.

Its inclusion in the Games has increased its visibility and appeal, combining classic elegance with modern, acrobatic performances.

In 2017, synchronized swimming was renamed artistic swimming to enhance its appeal.

This change was driven by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which sought to boost the sport’s visibility and popularity, Mental Floss noted.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) tasked its Technical Synchronized Swimming Committee (TSSC) with finding a new name.

They proposed “artistic swimming” to highlight the sport’s artistic component, which accounts for one-third of the score.

Additionally, the new name aimed to draw a parallel with artistic gymnastics, a well-respected Olympic event.

The new name, however, has sparked controversy within the synchronized swimming community.

The TSSC opposed the rebrand but eventually agreed to avoid losing FINA and the IOC support.

The IOC had clarified that the sport would remain in the Olympics only if it adopted a new name.

Additionally, FINA typically involves sport-specific groups in such decisions. Still, it did not this time, leaving the decision largely to delegates from other aquatic sports who were not fully informed about the issue.

Following the decision, former synchronized swimmer Kris Harley-Jesson started a Change.org petition to oppose the new name.

She argued that “artistic swimming” does not adequately reflect the sport’s athleticism. She criticized the decision for lacking input from synchronized swimmers.

While she is not against rebranding, she believes this name was a poor choice. Her petition has collected around 11,000 signatures.

See the amazing 2024 Olympic performance of the U.S. artistic swimming team below: