In February 2022, in Kharkiv, twin sisters Maryna and Vladyslava Alexiiva had to flee in the middle of the night under the bombs. In extremis, they take with them their bronze medals, won in Tokyo a year earlier in synchronized swimming. They took refuge in Italy for six months, then decided to return to Ukraine to reunite with their team. From then on, they were obsessed with a single goal: to win the gold medal in Paris in 2024.
Men Who Swim is a humorous and poignant look at a group of middle aged men who have found unlikely success as members of Sweden's all male synchronized swimming team. What began as a weekly escape from the daily grind of work and family responsibilities, gradually evolved into a more serious commitment. Inspired by classical Esther Williams techniques from the 1950s, this group of train drivers and meat buyers, archivists and teachers soon became passionate exponents of the sport.
A short documentary exploring the gender inequality that male artistic swimmers are facing in the Olympics, including intimate interviews with Spanish mixed duet Pau Ribes and Emma Garcia, and legendary American male artistic swimmer Bill May.
Giovanni's dream is to become the first boy to compete in the Dutch synchronized swimming championship. He's got just one more exam to go.
Mısra and Defne are close friends and duet partners who met each other through synchronized swimming. After failing to qualify for the 2016 Olympics, they set a shared goal, the 2020 Olympics. Not too long after, their esteemed coach Natalie is fired by the federation with no explanation. What follows is an emotional devastation and disruption of scheduled practices, which in turn leads to a decline in their performances. Political tremors in Turkey and the global pandemic lead the duet to make a decision on whether to keep the fight or to find new paths in life.
This Sportscope short focuses on sailboat racing in Bermuda.
A National Film Board of Canada production about synchronized swimmers.
In August 2020, Olympic artistic swimmer Ona Carbonell became a first time mother, an experience that reshaped her life overnight.
Adventure. Challenge. The simple joy of riding the wind. The best kiteboard riders each have their own reasons for pursuing their sport to its uttermost limits, but they’re united in revealing its breathtaking beauty to the world.
This Sportscope short focuses on the sport of kayaking.
In this short, members of the California Water Bugs club demonstrate new ways to get thrills when water skiing.
An array of brave 1950s water skiing girls and guys bring a bit of Hollywood glamour to the chilly waters of Loch Earn.
In this Sportscope short, children from preschool age through age 14 are shown diving from various heights into a swimming pool. Lissa Bengston, of the Royal Academy of Physical Education in Stockholm, Sweden, supervises the children's activities.
50 Hours Underwater
Water Ski and Wakeboard Movie. Pilot for a a weekly series on ESPN2 about the world of Waterskiing and Wakeboarding.
Under 30
This short film from canoeist Bill Mason explains clearly how to locate a deep water channel by reading the rapids and how to apply paddling strokes and manoeuvres to steer the canoe where you want it to go. It also depicts what happens if you "wipe out" in a turbulent rapid and shows you how to survive the swim. Part of 'Path of the Paddle: Whitewater', in Bill Mason's Path of the Paddle Series.
A dive into the passion, determination, and adrenaline fueled world of competitive waterskiing, and the people who give their lives to it.
The story of a season of a high school water polo team, as told through their players and charismatic head coach.
James Fulbright highlights and traces the development of alternative surfing sports and traces their roots to desperate surfers who have invented ways to feed their addiction.