Men making waves in artistic swimming: Sport pioneers inspiring new generation of talent
Bill May and Giorgio Minisini took up artistic swimming for the pure love of the sport but their passion has provided a pathway for those who follow, including those who will be competing at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan from 14 to 30 July.
Artistic Swimming
Bill May and his peers have been dazzling spectators in World Championship artistic swimming since 2015, when men were first eligible to compete in the previously female-dominated sport.
As of December 2022, Olympic medals have become a goal for the next wave of artistic swimmers too – the name changed from synchronised swimming in 2017 – after World Aquatics announced that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would permit a maximum of two men to compete in the team event at Paris 2024.
The likes of teenagers Kenny Gaudet of the United States and Great Britain's Ranjuo Tomblin are reaping the gains from those who have come before them as they head to the 2023 World Aquatics Championship taking place in Fukuoka, Japan from 14 to 30 July, following in the wet footsteps of the now-retired USA icon May, 44, and current trailblazing Italian, Giorgio Minisini, 27.
"I look up to Bill May and Giorgio Minisini," the 17-year-old Tomblin told Inside Synchro in April. "All men in synchro have Bill to thank because he made it possible for us to be able to compete internationally. And Giorgio, because he swims beautifully."
“I think the path we're on right now is definitely a positive one. I feel like I'm part of that journey,” Gaudet told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview. “I want to get the results high enough to be able to advocate and promote male equality in the sport.”
Sadly, Minisini is injured and unable to compete in Japan. But those who are competing there, including Tomblin as well as Republic of Korea's Byun Jaejun, France's Quentin Rakotomalala, and Thailand's Kantinan Adisaisiributr, are also more than appreciative of the path forged for them by May and Minisini.
Artistic swimmers Bill May and Kanako Kitao Spendlove of the United States
New Yorker Bill May doing it his way
Instead of sitting poolside after his own swimming lesson had finished and waiting, bored, until the end of his sister's synchro class, 10-year-old May was encouraged by his mum to join his sibling, just to keep him occupied before they headed home.
He loved it.
Joining the Syracuse Synchro Cats before forming the Oswego Lakettes after the former disbanded, May then moved to California in 1996, aged 16, with the blessing of his parents, to join one of the top artistic swimming programs in the United States, the Santa Clara Aquamaids.
Two years later and partnered with Kristina Lum, the pair won the national championships, but it wasn't until 2015 that men were allowed to compete at the senior international level, with the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia the inaugural outing.
By then, May had been retired for a decade and working as a performer at Cirque du Soleil, but he returned to the pool for this most auspicious of occasions, claiming gold alongside Lum in the mixed duet technical routine, and silver in the free.
The ripple effect of men's artistic swimming on the international stage had begun.
Giorgio Minisini's Italian job
"I didn't choose artistic swimming, artistic swimming chose me," Minisini said in an interview for Eurosport ahead of the 2023 European Games in June, in which he would go on to win one gold, three silvers and a bronze.
The Rome native was referring to growing up in an artistic swimming obsessed household courtesy of his mother, a coach at various clubs, and father, an international judge in the sport.
Seeing May perform in his hometown was an eye opener for the young Minisini.
"We saw Bill May swim in Rome when I was four. Seeing this man doing it differently from women but still doing it well was inspirational," Minisini said.
At the ground-breaking 2015 World Aquatics Championships, Minisini was on the podium alongside the man who had inspired him, claiming two bronze medals with partner and soon-to-be Rio 2016 Olympian Manila Flamini in the technical, and Mariangela Perrupato – ahead of her second Olympic Games – in the free.
The 2017 World Championships saw Minisini win a longed-for world title, in the mixed duet technical alongside Flamini, also securing a silver in the free with Perrupato.
The 2019 edition saw him take two silver medals, and after a break in competition due to COVID, Minisini came back with a bang in 2022, claiming gold in both events with new partner Lucrezia Ruggiero.
But another shape shift in the sport was to come courtesy of Minisini himself.
Already a four-time European silver medallist in the mixed events, at the 2022 championships at his home pool in Rome, Minisini was crowned winner of the men’s inaugural solo final.
In front of family and friends, the "life-changing" day saw Minisini make more history in the pool where he was first inspired by May.
"He's a role model for me in many ways," Minisini said, "just as I hope to be for future generations."
Ranjuo Tomblin's great expectations
"Last year was so inspirational, especially when (Gino) became world and European champion," Great Britain's Tomblin enthused ahead of the 2023 season.
The teenager took up the sport in 2017 when a local artistic swimming coach asked if he wanted to try out. Originally from a swimming and gymnastics background, like his contemporaries, Tomblin immediately loved the sport.
"I like that it combines multiple sports in one and that there’s never an easy moment," he said. "It’s always challenging because there are so many aspects to it. I think it’s really cool to be able to express yourself through a routine."
Aged 15, Tomblin became the first artistic male swimmer to represent Great Britain internationally, when he competed at the 2021 European Junior Championships.
The following year, he took part in the inaugural men's solo competition at the 2022 edition in Alicante, Spain, claiming silver behind the home nation's Dennis González.
"My proudest moment so far is winning the silver medal in free solo last year," Tomblin said. "This was the first time that male solos had been part of the European Championships at all. It was truly an honour to be a part of that history."
Tomblin also won silver in the mixed duet free alongside his partner and "best friend" Beatrice Crass.
And now there's a competition in Japan to attend. With his heritage half Japanese, courtesy of his mother, Tomblin's debut world championships promise to be extra special.
British mixed duet artistic swimmers Beatrice Crass and Ranjuo Tomblin
Artistic swimming: Olympics bound
When May, Minisini and even the youngest, Tomblin, started the sport, Olympic participation for men was more than a lengthy-breath-hold away from coming true.
Now though, with participation at Paris 2024 secured, those who came before are breathing a sigh of relief that other athletes can ride the crest of the wave that originated from their ripples.
Yet the raised profile and inclusion are just a by-product of something much simpler for the pioneers of men's artistic swimming – pure love of the sport.