Hundreds of Canada’s finest swimming athletes bring their synchronized skills to Saanich waters later this month.
Victoria Artistic Swimming hosts national qualifiers, overlapping and followed by the Canadian University Artistic Swimming League nationals, at Saanich Commonwealth Place March 16 to 23.
The 50-year-old local club of about 80 athletes occasionally hosts small meets and presents water shows twice a year.
“This is the biggest event, by far for 10 years. There hasn’t been a bigger event on the Island for this sport in a decade,” said Jill Shaw, a board member and chair of the local organizing committee.
It will see 650 of the best artistic swimmers in Canada compete – 450 young athletes followed by 200 or so in the university competition.
The public is welcome with plenty of viewing opportunities with both team and solo events.
“It’s a great sport for watching,” Shaw said. “They’re going to be high-level athletes. Their athleticism and synchronization, flexibility, endurance and strength are all pretty impressive. So it’s fun, and interesting and engaging.”
Qualifiers run March 16 to 22 with university nationals March 21 to 23. Victoria Artistic Swimming has two teams, a couple of duets and several soloists competing at the event. Team competitions are especially busy and exciting to watch, with the youth team taking to the water March 20 at 2:45 p.m. and the junior team later that day at 7:50 p.m.
The club boasts athletes from four years old to masters level. The kids in the provincial stream recently competed in Nanaimo and the national stream competes in the coming Saanich event then moves on to nationals at Markham, Ont. May 6 to 11.
Visit victoriasynchro.com for a full schedule and volunteering opportunities.
