Big waves on the Olympic stage.
It's called artistic swimming. So it's the first time the
US has competed in the sport at the Olympics since
the Beijing Games back in
2008. And WLWT News 5's Nicola Ponte has the assignment.
She's been talking with local teams all day.
And Nicole, how is the sport grown in popularity around
here?
Hey, Mike and Cherie, history has been made today.
Men can now compete in artistic swimming,
which the rhinestones here say will make this sport more
inclusive.
But if you've ever had those thoughts and those days
where things aren't lying quite outright heard that this team
is always In Sync
in the heart of Over The Rhine,
it is a true gift and it's all full of
magic.
There is a team that beats as one.
The trust that comes from just like being in the
water with our team is really beautiful.
The Rhinestones synchronized swimming team shines bright at Siegler Park.
We are working together to make beautiful things happen for
each other and for the pool and for the communities.
Pam Kravitz is the mastermind tear.
If you just go for it,
she knows how freeing the water can be.
You can do anything, and you can try new things,
and you can put yourself in spaces that make you
a little nervous.
I'm a little scared and a little not confident to
do what you're doing.
The backbone of the rhinestones is Casey Miller.
He's the base of the support system.
I do a lot of the lifts
with some of our team members,
so a lot of people kind of get up
in the air because of me.
A lot of these moves are a reflection of the
Synchro Gators and Blue Ash.
Sometimes it's hard. Practice is hard for sure,
but like the rewards are just,
they're amazing. This team has pulled the resources together at
the YMCA,
making sure their reach extends much further than the skulls
and flips they do in the pool.
We can help somebody around here or help someone in
another place in Ohio.
We're always happy to do that.
Back in OTR, the rhinestones still learning and loving artistic
swimming.
We are showing other people that you can make your
dreams come true at any age and at any ability
because they know when times get tough,
it's really magical to sort of see how it comes
together and see that seed of doubt just disappear.
This team will continue to lift each other up.
The popularity wave has made its way to be here
and Over The Rhine.
These rhinestones, though, shine bright here every single day.
Reporting live from the Olympic stone tonight,
I'm Nicola Ponte.
You got to love it,
Nicole. Reporter involvement right there.
A gold medal performance. Give us a bow.
Thank you so much, Nicole.
Great job. And the rhinestones playing along
with her pirouette. Yeah. Great job,
girls. Thank you so much.