text:  It's considered one of the world's most grueling sports. Artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, demands the power of a weightlifter, the speed and lung capacity of a distance swimmer, and the flexibility of a gymnast. On top of that, athletes are performing in sync, in time to music, without ever touching the bottom of the pool. If that's not enough to compel you to watch, the event in Paris is set to be the closest contest in Olympic history.