“We`ll Raise Up the Future of Synchronized Swimming”

It is the afternoon of May 26 at the Jamshil Indoor Swimming Pool in Seoul. The faces of two instructors who are teaching the basic movements of synchronized swimming to little children look very familiar. These two are Yeon Joong Lee and Su Ji Choi (both at 32 years of age). These two are the forerunners of national synchronized swimming who represented Korea until 1993 after becoming the very first national representative duet in 1985.

Ms. Lee is into the 6th month of her pregnancy. Her big stomach is apparent through the swimsuit. Moreover, Ms. Choi is a housewife who already has a three-year-old daughter. Why have these two returned to the water nearly 10 years after their retirement?

“We were very stunned when we visited a swimming competition not long ago. There were only 5 elementary players for the synchronized swimming. Only one team participated in the duet division and they just got the gold medal. Well ….”

Next year will be the 20th year anniversary since the synchronized swimming was introduced in Korea. These two have been excited with the news of players having outstanding performances at a couple of recent national junior competitions as well as the finalized decision of including the synchronized swimming as an official sport in the National Sports Competition but they have seen an unexpected scenery. There is no future for the synchronized swimming if it continues like this!

At the very site, Ms. Lee and Ms. Choi had made a commitment that they themselves “will be responsible for raising up the future of the synchronized swimming.” First thing to do is to find a swimming pool. After running around here and there, an indoor swimming pool in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul, has been impressed with their passion and delightfully approved the usage of its swimming pool.

The daily life schedule of these two are very packed. They opened an Internet café (http://café.daum.net/hyundaisynchro) to write back every single question about synchronized swimming everyday. Then they go out to the pool in the afternoon to instruct. Their schedule doesn`t end here. They run around the schools in the Gangnam region and the apartment complexes, putting up the posters in order to gather participants for the synchronized swimming.

The biggest problem of putting up the posters at the apartment complexes is getting the approvals from the women`s community. At first, it was so difficult to the point that they even thought about giving everything up but now they are used to the mean faces. They are prepared to face anything with their smiles.

“I`ve encountered synchronized swimming when I was in my second year of middle school. I`ve won a medal for the first time in the national synchronized swimming history at the Japan`s Open Competition during my fourth year of learning but I had a lot of regrets, thinking `I would have done much better if I`ve started at an earlier age.`” Thus, the children who are instructed ranges from the ages of 6 to 13, really the beginners.

Ms. Choi has asked her mother to take care of her little daughter for this work. The pregnant Ms. Lee is even more passionate about the work even when she has a cold. She is determined to instruct until she gives a birth no matter how big her stomach gets.

“I have seen many similar cases where pregnant coaches instruct in foreign countries. There is no harm and there even has been a research result that it rather has a positive effect on the babies.”

They dream of a day when the domestic swimming pools are crowded with synchronized swimmers. They firmly believe that synchronized swimming can be a lifetime pleasurable sport when learned at earlier ages even if they don`t become professional players.

“Synchronized swimming can cultivate the aesthetic sense since it is done with the music and has many applied movements of ballet. There is lesser chance of injuries since it is done in the water. And it will even improve the ability to express.”

Chang Jeon jeon@donga.com