Snicker if you wish. Guffaw for good measure. Bill May and other male synchronized swimmers 鈥� now called artistic swimmers 鈥� have heard the putdowns before.
But they鈥檙e getting the last laugh.
Men have competed in synchro at the lower levels for decades. Now they鈥檙e being included in the Olympics, meaning next year鈥檚 Summer Games in Paris.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a huge opportunity for the sport to grow and attract more men,鈥� May told the Associated Press at the World Aquatics Championships. 鈥淏y keeping men out you鈥檙e limiting the sport. By including men you鈥檙e going to see an upshift in the popularity and the numbers.鈥�
May looks like a lean bodybuilder. He was among the first men to compete when And he worked for 17 years at Cirque du Soleil doing water-themed shows. He has come out of competitive retirement for a chance to compete at the Olympics.
鈥淭here has always been that misconception that it鈥檚 a female-only sport, or that it鈥檚 for wimps, or that it鈥檚 not a difficult sport,鈥� the 44-year-old May said. 鈥淎nyone that has anything negative to say about the sport 鈥� boy, female, anyone. Just try it and you鈥檒l know it鈥檚 the most difficult sport in the world.鈥�
鈥� the water ballet that made few waves below the flowery rubber caps and permanent smiles, It鈥檚 estranged from the sport introduced at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
The acrobatic team event, in particular, features lifts, throws and flips, and diving routines launched off the shoulders of teammates treading water below. It鈥檚 gymnastics on water and concussions are a risk.
Interested men often confront the stereotypes.
Beginning in elementary school, 18-year-old American Kenny Gaudet dreamed of being a synchronized swimmer. He made it, but it wasn鈥檛 easy.
鈥淚t makes me emotional just to think about the problems we all went through and the struggles we all had just to get a chance to swim and do what we love,鈥� said Gaudet who competed at this year鈥檚 worlds.
鈥淪o much bullying. So much slander. So much hate,鈥� he added. 鈥淛ust because of my gender, just because I鈥檓 a male in artistic swimming. When I first started I wanted to quit so many times. Growing up my peers would ask why I鈥檓 doing a female sport, why am I being like a girl and degrade me for doing what I love to do.鈥�
One aspect of Adam Andrasko鈥檚 job as the head of USA Artistic Swimming is recruiting men. He said there are about 100 participating in the United States, up from 25 just four years ago.
鈥淭here hasn鈥檛 been a good foundation of growth,鈥� Andrasko said. 鈥淵ou haven鈥檛 had the farm system.鈥�
A few countries at the world championships have male swimmers including the United States, Japan, Germany and China. Spain and Italy also have top competitors.
鈥淭here aren鈥檛 a lot of countries with strong males,鈥� in the international competition, Andrasko said, noting men often lack the flexibility to compete. 鈥淪o you might not see a lot of males swimming in the Olympics. I鈥檓 concerned it goes to the Olympic Games and we don鈥檛 see a male participating. I definitely have that fear.鈥�
鈥淭o this point,鈥� he added, 鈥渨omen are still far better at this sport than a man.鈥�
Another fear, apparently unfounded, is that women might resent the men competing in the sport. Men will compete in only team events at the Olympics. Teams have a maximum of eight members 鈥� with a limit of two men 鈥� which means men might crowd out some women.
There is no requirement for men to be included.
Asked about any acrimony, two-time American Olympian Anita Alvarez replied: 鈥淣o, not at all.鈥�
Alvarez has blacked out twice in the last two years while competing and had to be resuscitated. She鈥檚 been cleared to compete with no diagnosis except physical or mental exhaustion. Holding her breath for too long underwater is also suspected.
Men can add some physicality to routines, and their presence could lead to a wider audience. Alvarez also credits May with choreography skills that he picked up with Cirque du Soleil.
鈥淗aving the inclusion of both males and females will make it more open for young boys and young girls to dream of being in the Olympics, parents wanting to start their kids,鈥� Alvarez said.
She ran off her workout routine, sure to scare away men and women 鈥� equally.
鈥淲e鈥檙e training eight-plus hours a day, treading water all day,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou have to be able to count time and work with music. You have to be able to watch your patterns and stay in line. We don鈥檛 wear goggles when we compete. You鈥檙e holding your breath. You don鈥檛 touch the bottom. There are so many elements that go into it that people don鈥檛 see.鈥�
And we鈥檙e about to see more men trying it.
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