Every four years, the Olympic Games take over the world for two weeks. Summer 2024 was no different, as the world watched Team USA dominate in multiple arenas spanning over several sports.
One event that could have flown under the radar is the women's artistic swimming team. But this year's team made their mark on the Paris Games, launching themselves into the history books with their first Olympic medal in the sport after a 20-year drought — and a silver medal, no less.
AQUA got the chance to speak to Team USA's Ruby Remati to give us the inside scoop on the experience of an Olympic silver medalist.
"I didn't really relax until I made the team," says Remati with a smile. "Of course, once you make the team, that's an even bigger responsibility. But one that I definitely wanted," she amends.
To us non-athletes, it's hard to imagine the pressure of representing your country at the most renowned athletic stage in the history of sports. According to Remati, the secret to success for the US women's artistic swimming team has been the mutual respect they hold for one another.
"Everyone had the same goal," she says. "Everyone truly wanted to be there, and we were willing to sacrifice our entire day, our entire year, to put in the work."
The extra strength and hard work has undoubtedly been building for years, since the organization has gone without a medal in this sport for years. After winning bronze in 2004, the US women's artistic swimming has had only one opportunity to win a medal since. And in 2008, they went home empty handed.
So what changed over the last 20 years that created a silver-winning team?
For Remati, it came in the form of honoring those that came before them and creating something special. "This one wasn't just for our team, but rather a combination of past teams and the lasting legacy of USA Synchro," she says fondly. "For me, it was about giving respect to the swimmers that came before us who worked really hard. Now, it's kind of a shared medal among the entire USA Synchro community."
Not many things can come close to the sweet elation of accomplishing a goal two decades in the making, but what's more is what this historic victory will mean for the sport going forward. In Remati's opinion, it'll open up the possibility for fair placements as the sport and its teams continue to evolve.
"The sport has changed a lot over the last two years, especially with a whole new rule system in place," Remati explains. "I think it'll allow for teams to get the placement that best represents their swim, rather than a score that reflects their reputation, which held lots of weight in previous Games." This way, the door is open for virtually any team that has what it takes to get to the podium.
Take it from a silver medalist: anything can happen! Artistic swimming is still changing, still evolving, and there's no challenge that can stop a dedicated team from becoming victorious — not even a 20-year drought.
This article first appeared in the January 2025 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
