Lauren Smith’s Top Ten Tips

1. DIVING

Diving into the pool is one of the first parts of the routine that the judges mark.

An important thing to work on is maintaining your alignment and extension of the feet and knees upon entering the pool.

This will make the beginning of the routine much more aesthetically pleasing.

2. COUNTING OUT LOUD

Athletes sometimes count to keep duet and team 'walk-ons' in time but if this can be heard on poolside or by the judges it becomes distracting.

There were times during the British Gas Synchronised Swimming National Age Group Championships where I could hear it from the commentary box which was quite a distance away.

The British Gas GBR Synchronised Swimming team usually select an athlete who will count the first eight and then allow the other athletes to count in their head for the next part of the walk-on.

This does, however, need to be practised.

3. THE BIG FINISH

It's important to make sure the ending of your figures are always well-executed.

Judges are not impressed when swimmers fall off spins and vertical descents as they rush to the surface for another breath or move on to the next movement.

Swimmers should back tuck (somersault) after totally submerging in order to avoid this scenario.

Read all ten tips as well as a full report from the 2011 British Gas ASA National Age Group Synchronised Swimming Championships in the February edition of the Swimming Times.

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