By Lise Diebel
Special to The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 10, 2007)
Synchronized swimmers make graceful water routines
look effortless.
But the truth is, this sport puts swimmers through a
rigorous cardio and muscle workout while also demanding
the flexibility of a yogi and the grace of a ballerina.
Hani Bayoumi discovered synchronized swimming --
sometimes called water ballet because of its similarity
to dance -- after a neighbourhood girl expressed
interest in taking lessons.
Six years later, Bayoumi, 14, of Burlington is a
national level competitor who is mulling the possibility
of training for the Olympics.
The Grade 9 student at Nelson High School started
training with the Burlington Synchronized Swimming Club
when she was eight. After one year of recreational
synchro, she went on to a competitive level.
Bayoumi took swimming lessons before trying synchro,
but wasn't a natural water baby.
"I was the one in the group who never wanted to put
my head under," says Bayoumi, who eventually grew
comfortable in the pool and then fell in love with
synchronized swimming.
"I liked how it was different than anything else,"
she says. She feels synchro is often misunderstood by
the general public because it looks too elegant to be
difficult.
"It's really one of the hardest sports that I've ever
tried. People think it's really easy, but we make it
look easy."
Bayoumi trains 15 hours a week with her eight-member
team.
"We train for perfection," says her coach Debbie
Laanep, a former national-level competitor who praises
synchronized swimming for offering girls a wide variety
of activities.
"There are all kinds of options when they decide this
career is over for them."
Bayoumi's future may include a shot at the Olympics,
though she's still undecided because of the huge time
commitment necessary for training. "I'm not really sure
what I want to do with my future."
The training's tough
Hani Bayoumi and the Burlington Synchronized Swimming
Club train 15 hours a week -- 12 hours in water and
three on land. Here are some training highlights:
* The team runs twice a week, building up to 20
minutes a run. Swimmers need great endurance because
water routines last up to five minutes and they're
treading water the whole time.
* Strength training with weights helps build muscular
endurance so swimmers last through rigorous routines.
They need strong muscles to get their bodies high out of
the water and maintain balance while treading water.
* Pilates and yoga moves help with core conditioning
and flexibility.