East Coast Premiere

Synchronized swimming is often dismissed as a lightweight sport, if a sport at all. SYNC OR SWIM should dispel any such myths, showing the blood, sweat and tears it takes to be a serious competitor in synchronized swimming. Cheryl Furjanic takes us inside the selection and training of the 2004 US team to meet the athletes behind the performers.

As with Olympic aspirants the world over, these women are fiercely dedicated in their quest to achieve Olympic gold. While their peers enjoy their high school years at the movies and the mall, these young women get up at the crack of dawn and spend most of their waking hours in the pool, competing for only nine spots on the team. For those who make it, the stakes only get higher, the practice hours longer, and their bodies more weary. With virtually no room for errors, they must also battle injuries and personal tragedies, trying to stay focused and keep their eyes on the prize.

With a keen eye for the human side of the young Olympians, Cheryl Furjanic demonstrates there is much more to synchronized swimmers than pinched noses and sequined swimsuits. Interwoven with candid interviews and impressive underwater footage, SYNC OR SWIM will make you want to head poolside and cheer them all the way to the podium.

—Minjae Ormes