The introduction of revolutionary new rules in 2023 proved to be a “game-changer” for artistic swimming and led to athletes from a record number of continents – three – claiming medals at last year’s Olympic Games.

As those at the summit of the sport know well, acknowledging existing or emerging challenges—and making the required revisions—is fundamental to future success.

The latest adjustments are seen as evolution rather than revolution, but they are viewed as key to ensuring a greater focus on artistry and reducing repetition and safety concerns.

The dazzling first World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup of 2025 in Paris marked not only the start of the new season and ‘Olympic cycle’ leading towards Los Angeles 2028 but also the debut of the latest rule revisions.

While naturally a little nervous about how the changes might impact their scores in competition, the assembled athletes left France “excited” about the changes and “optimistic” about the year ahead.

“With the old rules, it was quite free, and towards the end of the year, it became really repetitive and a bit boring, but the new rules really boost creativity,” European champion Ranjuo Tomblin tells World Aquatics.

The British athlete, who won two historic gold medals at the Paris World Cup continues; “There are more limitations and more expectations (now), so you know you have to have each family (thrusts, rotations, flexibility, airborne weight and connections) in a routine, so hopefully there’ll be a lot more artistic impression and variety.”

Ramirez adds; “It’s no longer just about difficulty scores, but looks at what you’re really doing in water, ‘how good can you be? How high can you be?’ And that’s really exciting.”

What Has Changed | In the Words of Artistic Swimming Icon Bill May

Former World champion turned broadcaster and World Aquatics Athlete Committee member Bill May (USA) was present in Paris and welcome the changes he witnessed; insisting the revisions helped boost the artistry of the sport, together the safety aspects.

“The routines have been shortened when it comes to hybrids, so whereas it used to be, say, seven hybrids or seven leg sequences, now there's six,” say May.

“It’s to push the (importance of) artistic impression as well as keep the safety of the athletes at a priority, so it does give them more opportunity to, you know, breathe, which we all want to do!

May continues: “The routines are very short, solos are two minutes and 15 seconds for example, but in that time they're (still) underwater a good, probably two-thirds of the time.

“So these (new rules) give athletes an opportunity to be above the water (for longer), engage that audience more, connect with the judges, gain the artistic points they deserve and just show a full all-round performance.”

What Has Changed | In the Words of Artistic Swimming Commentator Andrea Holland

“The main positive is that the artistic impression is much better again,” she says.

“The additional codes that have been made available means there’s a lot more variety in performance and also, they’ve split out spins and rotations.

“The transitions, being up to four moves, means good artistry, previously it was only two and now it’s only considered a hybrid if they have five or more than five movements.

Holland (GBR) continues: “In addition, the hybrids aren’t as repetitive, the new rules in place now means each family and group has to be included in each performance, whereas before you didn’t need to do that.

“In Paris (the first World Cup of 2024) you weren’t able to appeal base-marks, which is a move in the right direction as it’s a lot clearer now whether something should go to a base-mark of not.

“All these things have made a real difference to how much variety is in the performance, it’s so much better.”

The View From the Officials | Lisa Schott

“We listened to the community with the new rules, especially the athletes and coaches as they're the end-product users,” says Lisa Schott, Chair of the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming Technical Committee.

“They know what they need and what was missing in the changes.

“We never thought that when we first rolled out the new rules (in 2023), that it would be perfect; we're driving forward all the time and so we were always open to hear the feedback.

“From what I've seen here (in Paris), it's been super, super, super successful, artistic is back in the sport and thriving.

Schott (CAN) continues: “I think the athletes are happy that they're getting rewarded for the work they are doing in the water. The judges and difficulty technical controllers were really working hard on education pieces for them.

“I think as we go through the season we will see completely different routines and by the time we get to China (Artistic Swimming Super Final, 13-15 June, in Xi’an), the coaches and the athletes will develop (their routines) and show their expertise.”

The View From the Athletes

“Every time the rules come out it’s an adjustment, but it’s exiting that it’s always changing and evolving,” says Olympic silver medallist Jamie Czarkowski (USA).

“We always have new things to add, look to improve and work on, which I think it brings a fun element to the sport.

“They (Artistic Swimming officials) are listening to all the feedback, which is good and I think that helps our sport to keep progressing and make it fair, as well as even, for everyone.”

Former World champion Alisa Ozogina Ozhogin (ESP) is equally enthusiastic about the direction her sport is taking following the successful Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“I think the changes are really good because we can do more artistic routines and not every country does the same elements,” says the Spanish swimmer.

“We are improving, we are working on it and I think this year we have really great routines.”

Olympic silver medallist Jacklyn Luu (USA) is looking forward to seeing further progress leading into what will be a home Games for the United States, come LA 2028.

“Every cycle there’s new rules, so it’s a matter of finding out best way to get the highest DD (degree of difficulty), but also ensure we maintain the strong execution that we’ve shown in recent years,” she tells World Aquatics.

“I think before the new scoring system there was a lot of repetition of movements so a lot of the routines, they would all look the same and so now this newer system allows for some more creativity and for the USA we want to show that above and below the water.”

Two-time European silver medallist and Paris WC champion Klara Bleyer (GER), says there is now a “good balance” between artistic and difficulty elements within the sport.

“Last season it was more difficulty as the main thing, but now I think you don’t have to do extreme (difficulty routines), it needs to be a good balance of both,” she says.

Bill May concludes; “we developed new rules in 2023 and that was to make the sport more objective, rather than subjective and this year, these rules have now evolved into more variety and given more opportunities for athletes, which brings even more to the sport.”