Team GB have never come close to an artistic swimming medal.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, two-time Olympians Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe are aiming for a podium finish.
The duo made their artistic swimming Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, finishing 14th. Now, with Olympic experience under their belt, the Bristol-born pair are paving the way for Great Britain in the artistic swimming world.
Team GB’s chef de mission, Mark England, praises them as “pioneers.”
Despite Team GB's poor history in this Olympic discipline, Shortman and Thorpe's medal-winning performance at the World Championships in January showcased their potential.
The pair, who met at school in Bristol and have been swimming together since, were both born in 2001 and consider themselves like sisters.
“We finish each other’s sentences, wear the same clothes, put our hair the same,” said Thorpe.
Artistic swimming requires execution, artistic impression, and precision. What looks effortless demands intense training, including yoga, weights, swimming, dance, and apnea training. Shortman and Thorpe can both hold their breath underwater for three minutes—a crucial skill given the limited opportunities to come up for air during routines.
Historically, the Olympic artistic swimming scene has been dominated by teams from China, Russia, the USA, and Japan. This has often left British artistic swimmers with limited funding and support.
Despite the challenges, Shortman and Thorpe have never lost their passion for the sport. Izzy’s mum Karen, a former artistic swimmer and current manager of UK Aquatics, notes, “They have supported themselves with jobs: coaching, working at clubs, often when they should be resting, alongside university and full-time training. It’s been tough, but their passion has never waned.”
In preparation for Paris, the pair have been training with Japanese coach Yumiko Tomomatsu, who they say has taught them invaluable life lessons.
Given Great Britain’s history in the discipline, a podium finish for Shortman and Thorpe might seem unlikely, but their determination and drive give them hope.
“Gold was once more of a dream than a goal, but now it’s firmly within our sights,” said Shortman.
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