IOC to allow men to compete in synchronised swimming for first time at Paris 2024 Olympics

Paris 2024 will be the first Games with complete gender equality after the IOC’s historic decision involving one team sport in the water.

With the inclusion of breakdancing, an opening ceremony floating down the Seine River and surfing in Tahiti, the Paris 2024 Olympics is already delivering on its promise to smash through some of sport’s glass ceilings.

But now comes news of a monumental breakthrough in the battle for gender equality – permission for men to compete in artistic swimming.

Forget all the male jokes about nose pegs and waterproof makeup, this is a serious sport that’s about to attract a billion or so extra eyeballs after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave the thumbs up to storming one of the last bastions of female-only sport.

Only rhythmic gymnastics and softball – which isn’t on the program for Paris – prevent blokes from participating but their time is running out.

The decision to allow men to compete in artistic swimming – formerly known as synchronised swimming – has been years in the making, spurring some Hollywood films along the way.

World Aquatics has allowed men to compete in mixed duet competitions at its world championships from 2015 but under agreement for Paris, men will be allowed to compete in the team event, with restrictions. Each team has eight members but only a maximum of two can be men.

In 2019, Ethan Calleja became the first Australian male to represent the country in the sport on the international stage when he finished fifth with ­experienced Olympian Danielle Kettlewell at the world titles in South Korea.

Danielle Kettlewell, 26, and Ethan Calleja, 19, are the first Australian "Mixed Duet" synchronised swim team vying to compete at the World Championships in South Korea this year. Picture: David Swift.

Calleja had given up on his Olympic dream, but was stunned when told by News Corp his door to compete in Paris was now open.

“I didn’t know that this news was coming because I think we were expecting it to be fully shut down,” he said.

“It’s pretty amazing. It’s something that we’ve been waiting for, for how many years I’ve been in the sport, and more importantly, how many years other men in the sport have been waiting for.

“It’s one of those things that you feel like that door is closing when you don’t have those opportunities. So seeing that open up is almost breathtaking, just even having the opportunity to do it.

“It’s one of those things that I’ve dreamt of since I was five to go to the Olympic Games. I felt like I had a crack for that when I was with swimming and then with synchro, I haven’t had that opportunity yet.

“A lot of people have invested so much into my life and invested in opportunities for me to grow into the sport and to even have the opportunity to compete for my country. And that’s all anyone could ask for. Because of that, I’ve been very blessed by the people around me to get me where I am. And I guess in the scheme of things, that means the job’s not done yet then.”

Danielle Kettlewell, 26, and Ethan Calleja, 19, will hopefully represent Australia in a historic first in Paris. Picture: David Swift.

American Bill May, who was on the winning team when the inaugural mixed duet event debuted at the 2015 world championships, heralded the news as a game changer.

“The inclusion of men in Olympic Artistic Swimming was once considered the impossible dream. This proves that we should all dream big,” he said.

“The male athletes have endured. Now, through their perseverance and the help and support of so many, all athletes may stand alongside each other equally, reaching for Olympic glory.”

However Calleja won’t be the lone Aussie male chasing a Paris dream.

There were four young men who competed at the last national titles and now they have just 18 months to see if they can find a team that is willing to accept a male into their unit and get busy preparing for a tilt at history.

”This is what was really cool about going to nationals this year, there’s four young boys from all around Australia who are starting out and have been going for a couple of years,” Calleja said.

“We’ve got a handful in Australia, but the growth around the world has just been taking off, seeing all the junior competitions for the men’s and stuff.

“There’s nearly 100 guys all around the world who are like getting into it now. So it’s pretty incredible.”

Calleja had taken time out of the pool after getting married, but is now inspired to pursue his Olympic dream.

Danielle Kettlewell, 26, and Ethan Calleja, 19. Calleja had previously given up on his dream of going to the Olympics. Picture: David Swift.

“It’s one of those things that I don’t think I would ever not give it a crack (making the Olympic team) if I had the opportunity. So yes, I would be putting my head up,” he said.

“After it gets announced officially, there’ll be a lot of work to do with my national body and trying to get that even opportunity started because I don’t know what they’re going to feel about even having a guy in the team and, and everything.

“But if it is, that’s, probably just over 18 months to get something started and get cracking.

“I was lucky this year I actually got to compete at Nationals for both solo and mixed youth as well as the team event just in Australia, so I have a little bit of experience working within a full team rather than as unit. That’s helped me grow a little bit in the sport.

“So this is an opportunity to do it and this is yeah, my crack at it and I’m putting my hand up for that.”