People.com Entertainment Sports 18 Incredible Pictures of Olympic Artistic Swimming The Russian Olympic Commitee was victorious in the artistic swimming team competition, followed by silver medalists China and bronze winner Ukraine By Lindsay Kimble Lindsay Kimble Lindsay Kimble is a Senior Digital News Editor and the Sports Editor for PEOPLE Digital. She's worked at PEOPLE for over seven years as a writer, reporter and editor across our Entertainment, Lifestyle and News teams, covering everything from the Super Bowl to the Met Gala. She's been nominated for the ASME NEXT Awards for Journalists Under 30, and previously wrote for Us Weekly while on staff at Wenner Media. People Editorial Guidelines Published on August 7, 2021 08:27 AM Share Tweet Pin Email China's artistic swimming team. Photo: AP Photo/Morry Gash 01 of 18 China China's artistic swimming team. AP Photo/Morry Gash The artistic swimming team competition is made up of a technical routine and a free routine, both performed to music. 02 of 18 Australia The Australia artistic swimming team. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong The technical routine must include five designated movements that last, at most, 2 minutes and 50 seconds. 03 of 18 Spain Spain's artistic swimming team. AP Photo/Morry Gash The free routine, which was held Saturday, lasts three to four minutes long. 04 of 18 Spain Team Spain. Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Countries recieve points on synchronisation, difficulty, technique and choreography. 05 of 18 Australia Team Australia. Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Competitors don't wear just normal swimsuits — they're decorated one-piece costumes and paired with waterproof makeup. 06 of 18 Ukraine Ukraine's artistic swimming team. Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images Often, teams' choreography and music pay homage to the country's culture and heritage. 07 of 18 Spain Team Spain. Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Artistic swimming was first included in the Olympics at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. 08 of 18 Canada Team Canada. AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky According to Olympics.com, the swimmers keep their hair in place with a substance called gelatine, which is often in food products. 09 of 18 Russian Olympic Committee The Russian Olympic Committee. Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images Three panels score the teams, with five judges on each panel. 10 of 18 Italy Italy's artistic swimming team. Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images Some of the typical moves in artistic swimming include sculling, AKA quickly moving one's hands in the water to remain in one spot without touching the pool's bottom. 11 of 18 Russian Olympic Committee The ROC artistic swimming team. Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images The swimmers are expected to be able to hold their breath underwater for extended periods of time. 12 of 18 China China's team. AP Photo/Morry Gash Artistic swimming is frequently referred to as synchronized swimming in America. 13 of 18 Canada Canada's artistic swimming team. AP Photo/Morry Gash The United States hasn't won a gold medal in team artistic swimming since 1996 in Atlanta. 14 of 18 China China. AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky In addition to the team competiton, there is also an artistic swimming duet event in the Olympics. 15 of 18 Egypt Egypt's artistic swimming team. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong Russia has been the team artistic swimming champion every Games since 2000 in London. 16 of 18 China China. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong Another move that helps the swimmers stay above water during a performance is the eggbeater kick. 17 of 18 The Russian Olympic Committee The Russian Olympic Committee. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong Every little detail is judged, even the extension of the performers' fingertips. 18 of 18 China China. AP Photo/Morry Gash China has taken the silver medal in the team event every year since the 2012 London Games.