The flagship disciplines of the Summer Olympics, water sports are well represented in Paris and, more broadly, throughout the Île-de-France region. From diving to water polo and artistic (or synchronized) swimming, it's possible to train in some of Paris's most emblematic pools, usually under supervision.
These three sports - synchronized swimming, diving and water polo - are supervised and represented by the Fédération française de natation (FFN), which covers all disciplines, including speed swimming.
Olympics 2024: everything you need to know about aquatic sports, water polo, diving and artistic swimming
Beyond the must-see swimming events, water sports are particularly popular at each edition of the Olympic Games. Diving, water polo or artistic swimming: discover these events for the Paris 2024 Olympics. [Read more]
A team sport combining swimming and ball games, water polo is a demanding discipline that can be practiced from the age of 5. In a match, two teams of seven players play against each other in four periods of eight minutes each.
Where to play water polo in Paris and the Ile-de-France region:
Also known as synchronized swimming, artistic swimming is a choreographed routine performed by duets or teams of eight swimmers (or swimmers, although the sport is predominantly for women). Athletes need perfect synchronization to perform a series of lifts and choreographed movements underwater. Synchronized swimming can be practised by children from the age of 6 or 7, depending on the club.
Clubs where you can practice synchronized swimming, in Paris and Île-de-France :
Diving consists of a series of acrobatic figures (saltos and other flips) performed by jumping from a springboard set at a height of three meters, or from a high-flying platform set at a height of ten meters. The jumps are then judged on the beauty and complexity of the movements, or on the synchronization of the two divers in duet events.
Diving clubs in Paris and Ile-de-France:
Olympics 2024: everything you need to know about aquatic sports, water polo, diving and artistic swimming
