Spain’s Synchronized Swimmers Controversy (Photos)

Andrea Fuentes and Gemma Mengual - Spain Synchronized Swimming Team banned

One of Spain’s synchronized swimming teams was banned from competition because they deviated from the Olympic rules when they wore embedded waterproof lights. It seems the Spaniards wanted to call attention to their body of work by adding some extra sparkle and flare.

Team members, Andrea Fuentes and Gemma Mengual thought they could bring the judges around to their artistic costume choice but it didn’t work out in their favor. Fuentes had this to say about their decision to buck tradition and go for some real candle power:

“It got very sophisticated because obviously the battery doesn’t last long and then we had to look at circuits and interrupters, so we have been working on it around two months with a crack team. It looks a bit like Christmas lights. This is a very conservative sport…their excuse is that you cannot have accessories on your swimsuit, but the lights were sewn in. If you use those standards, sequins are a type of accessory”.

The pair were favored to medal in Beijing. Bummer.

Check out the light up swimsuits below – click to expand.

Fuentes and Mengual - banned from BeijingSpain’s Synchronized Swimmers Banned for their light up suitsAndrea and Gemma insync

Andrea and GemmaGemma and Andrea - Spanish Synchronized Swimming Team banned

Source: Yahoo

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3 Responses to “Spain’s Synchronized Swimmers Controversy (Photos)”

  1. Wow, syncronized swimming, beach volleyball, ping-pong, etc, etc. Wny are these considered sports?

  2. My two cents: I believe that the suits were very pretty with the lights. It just showed up a little more than sequins would, and it didn’t effect the way the swimmers performed.

  3. You’ll all be happy to know that these two swimmers did not in get disqualified.
    They put on different suits and went on to win Silver in their event.

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