With the Artistic Swimming program at Paris 2024 about to get underway, World Aquatics catches up with Canada’s Jacqueline Simoneau on the eve of her third-career Olympic Games.
Jacqueline Simoneau, you've had the most amazing career, but still no Olympic medal, how are you feeling heading into these Olympics?
I'm very excited. For the first time in Artistic Swimming history, the Olympic Games will be completely unpredictable. The scoring system has completely changed and you can come first one day and last the next. I think that's the beauty of our sport right now. I'm really looking forward to competing. There’s some strong competitors out there, and I'm just looking forward to seeing what the future holds for us.
Where is Artistic Swimming right now, because it feels from the outside it is definitely moving on a strong upward curve?
It is rapidly evolving. As we look at the past Olympic Games the scores were completely subjective. Routines were nice. They were beautiful. And I don't think the audience truly appreciated how difficult our sport is.
Right now we have athletes who are underwater for 99% of their routine, underwater for almost two minutes. The apnoea that requires to be able to perform at that level, the training hours, 40 to 60 hours that it takes to be able to achieve these performances, that’s what we'll be showing in Paris. I think it's quite remarkable. And I think now the audience will truly understand with this new system of judging, a newfound appreciation for the sport.
Considering you were thinking in 2021 that it was it for you as far as the Olympics are concerned, how are you processing your return to the Olympic stage here?
I retired after the Tokyo Olympic Games and decided to pursue my studies with a doctorate in podiatric medicine. I was quite content with the way that I left the sport. But there was just something in me, with the rules changing in our sport, that drew me back.
Also, giving back to the sport, working with different countries, helping their Olympic duet in South Africa, I still had a love and a passion for the sport. Now I think coming back for my third Olympics, I'm really taking a moment to truly enjoy every single moment.
I think third time's a charm. You can really let go of that pressure. When you truly enjoy what you do, I think the results come naturally. And I think that's what we're hoping for in these games.
Do you think that your sport has missed an opportunity not featuring any men in these Olympic Games?
Just to put it into context for those who aren't too familiar with Artistic Swimming, these are the very first Olympic Games that men are allowed to compete in the Olympics, and unfortunately no countries that have qualified have chosen to put a male in their team. However, I don’t think that is an accurate representation of the male level at the moment.
In Italy, for instance, there's an extremely strong swimmer who recently retired, and he is technically one of the strongest in the world. You also have Bill May from the United States, so I think I'm looking forward to seeing what LA 2028 will hold and the future Olympics, because I do strongly believe that we will be more inclusive in our sport.
Jacqueline Simoneau is competing for Canada in the Acrobatic Routine (5 Aug), Free Routine (6 Aug), and Technical Routine (7 Aug), as part of the Artistic Swimming Mixed Team event. She will also compete in the Free Routine (9 Aug), and Technical Routine (10 Aug), as part of the Women’s Duet event alongside Audrey Lamothe.