“Without discrimination of any nature”, is the call of the athlete so that he and other men can be part of the synchronized swimming teams. They denounce “we cannot participate despite the fact that Artistic Swimming is a mixed sport worldwide.”
Cali News
Artistic swimming is made up of a series of routines and actions that are carried out in the water, combining gymnastics and dance, whether it is a person, duets or teams; all to the rhythm of the music.
It is a sport that began with women as main protagonists, but over time it has been transformed and today it is a mixed sport.
However, in Colombia the reality seems to be different, since according to Gustavo Sánchez, from the Colombian Artistic Swimming team, they cannot participate in the National Games.
Gustavo has titles such as South American champion 2021, Bolivarian 2022, gold medal at the Paris Open 2022, among others.
Calls for the participation of men in the National Games.
Gustavo Sánchez, Colombian Artistic Swimming Team.
For what he makes the request for “male athletes to be included” to participate in the upcoming games.
Likewise, the participation of men is not included, despite the fact that the International Swimming Federation in 2022 made the decision to allow at least two men in the teams.
However, this new regulation for the National Games is not applied.
- “Since 2015, FINA endorsed men to officially compete and thanks to that we have had the opportunity to go to competitions in the mixed duet test,” says Gustavo.
These new regulations were also accepted by the World Olympic Committee “achieving the inclusion and participation of men in the next 2024 Olympic Games.”
Participation in the National Games
The call is made to the Ministry of Sports, so that men can participate in the next National Games, “because we would be part of the members of each team,” he says.
Therefore, if this is not the case, Sánchez adds that they would be left out of the possibility of obtaining benefits for their sports achievements such as scholarships and support from departmental institutions.
In addition, “the sport of artistic swimming in Colombia would be regressing, with respect to the advances obtained throughout the world,” he says.
Well, this participation would allow them to go according to the demands of the development of this sportmoving closer to inclusion “without discrimination of any kind”.
