Fake smiles, real pain: The hidden toll of artistic swimming
Kate Shortman, a British artistic swimmer, revealed a brutal truth. Although it may seem like she has a broad smile during competitions, it's just a way to cope with pain. "We're supposed to be smiling, so you can't see the pain. The smile is fake," she admitted.
Kate Shortman, a Great Britain-based swimmer, highlighted the difficulties associated with this sport, especially in the context of her efforts to win Olympic gold. The 22-year-old athlete explained that although it may seem like she has a wide smile during competitions, in reality, it's just a way to survive the pain.
As the British daily "The Sun" reports, artistic swimming looks impressive from the stands – athletes perform perfect movements and swim in water in spectacular costumes. However, beneath the surface of this spectacle lies an extremely exhausting sport, which poses a huge challenge for both the body and mind.
- I can’t stress how hard the sport is. 'Because it’s so glamorous, we’ve got our costumes on, it’s a distraction from the fact that this is a really, really hard sport. We’re supposed to be smiling so you can’t see the pain. The smile is fake - said the Briton.
Training for artistic swimming involves intense physical work, which takes at least 40 hours a week. It includes gymnastics, yoga, gym exercises, and specialized breath training to improve the ability to hold one's breath.
As "The Sun" reports, athletes must be able to hold their breath underwater for up to three minutes.
Despite many difficulties, Kate Shortman is determined to achieve her dream of winning Olympic gold in Paris this summer. "I think before Olympic gold almost seemed unattainable. It was more of a dream than a goal. Now, we’ve got our sights firmly set on it, and we’re working as hard as possible to achieve it," said Shortman, quoted by "The Sun."
They followed in their mothers' footsteps
Shortman will not be participating in the Olympic Games alone—her partner will be close friend Izzy Thorpe. Interestingly, both athletes are from Bristol and were born in 2001. As "The Sun" reports, their mothers, Maria Shortman and Karen Thorpe, were also artistic swimmers and competed together.
Although they failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in 1996, the Shortman and Thorpe families maintained close relationships for many years. Now their daughters, following in their mothers' footsteps, can win a medal at the Olympic Games.
