This page will be undergoing a new, updated focus for AWD in Artistic Swimming. We will be shifting from primarily advocacy to primarily resources for AWD and Coaches in Artistic Swimming. The local team we sponsor (Bay Area Artistic Swimming -) now has it's own webpage>click on the team name above to be redirected). By the FALL2025 this page should be completed with updates and accompanying tabs/pages. Included will be a login page for current AWD coaches.
Thank you for your patience as we transition into the next chapter for AWDs nationally & globally.
" "Artistic Swimming SHOULD be a Paralympic Sport"....
Who Do We Serve?
We are a small group organization based in San Jose, California, USA (San Francisco Bay Area) for assisting our population with disabilities in Artistic Swimming from all over the World.
If you are interested in, involved in, or support the sport of Artistic Swimming, our ultimate goal is to help introduce Athletes with Disabilities (AWD) to Artistic Swimming in many competitions and as a future Paralympic Sport. With your involvement or support, athletes with disabilities (AWD) can compete at higher/elite levels throughout the World!
Visit and Like our Facebook page. We are also on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
If you are an interested swimmer, coach, group, club, team, organization, or federation,
we welcome your inquiries! We can assist you with getting started with our
global movement of 'ArtSwimClusion!
If you are a current or former artistic swimmer with a disability,
please contact us and let us know WHO and WHERE you are! Tell us your story!
We'd like to reach out to you and keep you informed of the developments with
Artistic Swimming for athletes with disabilities (AWD) globally!
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Currently, there are swimmers with the following conditions
participating in Artistic (synchro) programs worldwide.
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Amputees
Autism
Cognitive disabilities
Downs Syndrome
Developmental disabilities
Neurological disabilities
Brachial Plexus disabilities
CMT
Epilepsy
Cerebral Palsy
MS
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Spina Bifida
Paralysis
Erbs Palsy
Sensory Impairments (Visual/Auditory)
Cognitive disabilities
Other Physical disabilities (seen and unseen)
California's Bay Area Artistic Swim Team
MAKES
USA SPORTS HISTORY!
Bay Area Artistic Swim Team takes home the GOLD!
Colorado Springs/Staff Writers
The 2021 Jr. Olympics for Artistic Swimming occurred at the Air Force training center pool. This annual event showcases the best athletes from across the USA in Artistic Swimming. In the 82yr history of Artistic Swimming, this event has never had a parasports (Tiers) category for athletes with disabilities (AWD). These amazing athletes compete with teams across the USA but due to limited abilities, they are not able to achieve the similar skills required to compete with their team peers at high performance qualifying competitions.
Since Artistic Swimming (synchronized swimming) is not a 'Disability, Adapted or Paralympic sport', the athletes typically will be limited to local mainstream competitions with no progression in the long term athlete development (LTAD) continuum. SPECIAL Thanks to the Team USA Artistic Swim Federation, they have worked hard to make it possible with including AWDs in local, regional, state and national competitions as an invitational category (AWD Tiers). With showcasing the talents of our fabulous AWDs across the USA, the possiblity of including AWDs in Artistic Swimming as a parasport category in National and International competitions all over the World, including the Paralympics is now a very real possibility!
Many athletes from all across the USA participated at the Jr. Olympics competing in figures (tech) and solo, duet, trio and team routines. Not only demonstrating their abilities but proving that they can earn the priviledge of being included with LTAD for future high performance parasport competition at mainstream events all over the World. We wish to congratulate the athletes from Bay Area Artistic Swim Team for being the 'pioneers' to achieve great success at this historic and inagural event to include AWDs with their non disabled peers at the same competition! Bay Area Artistic Swim Team athletes brough home 8 Gold medals and 2 Silver in figures and routines! Well done (pictured) Raquel, Adriana, Natalie, Lia, and Ashlyn! We cannot wait to see you and the rest of your team mates compete all the way to future Parasport & Paralympic games!
UpDate: Bay Area Artistic Swim AWDs have now particpated in:
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2022:
NorCal Regionals (Gold)
Calif State Games (Gold)
USA Youth World Championships (Gold)
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2023:
NorCal Regionals (Gold)
Calif State Games (Gold)
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2024:
NorCal Regionals (Gold/Silver/Bronze)
State Games of America (Gold/Silver)
France AWD (Pre-Paralympic) World Championships Competition,(8 Gold Medals)
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2025: Upcoming!
April: USA Nationals
July: California State Games
Nov: Mexico AWD World Cup
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For OTHER (California & West Zone Region) Artistic Swim Teams/Clubs, articles and season's info: PLEASE visit: West Zone Artistic Swimming
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Divserity, Equity and Inclusion: Artistic (synchronized) Swimming clubs and teams in Northern Calif
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For more info about Bay Area Artistic Swimming, click the TAB below the Team LOGO.
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Bay Area Artistic Swim Team can provide REMOTE training if you do not have a local artistic swim team OR if your team coaches need individual AWD training for you to participate!
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Int'l Camps, Training, Exhibitions & Competitions
In addition to our own sponsored Artistic Swim AWD Camps in Northern California, there are local, regional, national & international events which include AWD!
Please contact the organizers below for more information.
We have participated at all of these events!
Please mention the Artistic Swim AWD Organization
website as your referral.
If you would like us to ADD your event, please contact us.
Thank you!
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SPAIN/EURO CAMPS:
Enjoy FUN camps & exhibitions in Spain and other European Countries. Any level AWD. Contact Coach Albertina: albertinao@gmail.com
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JAPAN AWD SOLO COMPETITION & TEAM EXHIBITIONS
Para Artistic Swimming Festival in Kyoto. All ages and levels for AWD. Contact Coach Morita:
m-morita@gaia.eonet.ne.jp
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CANCUN, MEXICO
Artistic Swimming OPEN: Cancun Intl Open Competition with AWD Category. All AWD levels. Visit: www.sincromx.com or Contact Coach Paloma: sirenasespeciales@hotmail.com
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CANADA Artistic Swim training/competitions:
Training/Competition info for Canada:
Coach Katie: kallaire@ontarioartisticswimming.ca
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Global Clubs, Teams & Individuals
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There are Clubs/Teams/Individuals from OVER 25 Countries who have included or are now working to include AWD in their Artistic swim programs
Our heartfelt thanks to the people in many Countries for making an impact and for leading the dreams of thousands! Some of the Countries represented with teams, clubs and individuals actively participating below.
If you do not see a Country listed, please contact us to be added as part of the growing movement and commitment to take artistic swimming to another level for our global population with disabilities!
Thank you!
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Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
Estonia
Finland
France
Italy
Japan
Mexico
New Zealand
Panama
Portugal
San Andres Isla-Colombia
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Taiwan
United Kingdom
United States
Please NOTE: As we update this page, we will be adding more Countries not currently listed.
Sharing the Sport of Artistic Swimming!
Historical Spotlight....
Circa 2010
Lauren has cerebral palsy (right) and has been doing “synchro” since she was 10. Her duet partner – Nicole Flynn (left) has Downs syndrome, and the pair competed in Ontario and nationally in Canada for MANY years and was the first Duet to win Gold in the
Canadian Nationals. Canada became the 1st Country to add AWD to their Synchro programs and a spot on the Paralympic Roster.
Although both are 'retired' now, the sport has had numerous benefits for Lauren and Nicole. Lauren's mom Patty says that she
"would like to get the word out to other families so they’re aware this opportunity exists".
AWD GLOBAL AMBASSADOR
COACH & AWD ATHLETE
RAQUEL
Click on Photo
Did you KNOW?
The Paralympic logo 'Agitos'
(Because of trade marking, we cannot post the logo. Please Google the Paralympic Logo image as a reference).
This logo is not the same as the Olympic logo, which is the 5 rings.
The Paralympic logo (called the three Agitos) consists of three elements in red, blue and green: the three colors that are most widely represented in national flags around the world. The three Agitos (from the Latin meaning “I move”) encircling a central point symbolize motion, emphasize the role of the Paralympic Movement in bringing athletes together from all corners of the world to compete. This has inspired us to use the colors in a half ring in our logo.
We feel that it also represents our 'future Paralympians in Artistic Swimming!
Check out our link on the USA Paralympic club locater page:
Artistic Swimming for Athletes with Disabilities Artistic Swim AWD (teamusa.org)
USA Artistic Swimming Federation
We are supporting members of the
USA Artistic Swimming Federation (USAAS)
Please Support us with your kind monetary donations!
© DBA: Artistic Swimming for Athletes with Disabilities
(Artistic Swim AWD-USA)
Synchronized Swimming Athletes with Disabilities
TAX ID#47-4973987
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