Budapest will mark the 10th anniversary of technical routines in the history of the FINA World Championships.

It was during the Melbourne World Championships, back in 2007, that technical and free routines were separated in solo, duet and team events.

Consequently, the number of medals increased from 4 to 7.

Another period will come to an end at the 17th FINA World Championships, as FINA Technical Synchronised Swimming Committee may propose modifications to rules for the following four-year term.

Ten years ago, by its innovative decision FINA Technical Synchronised Swimming Committee intended to broaden the possibilities of obtaining medals among nations.

After all, there are major differences in routines of advanced techniques, easier and more entertaining free routines of group choreography and routines highlighting individual skills.

The World Championships in Melbourne proved to be a good example where the most successful synchro swimmer, the Russian Natalia Ischenko (in the early stages of her career at the time) won with her solo technical routine – following her fellow swimmer, Anastasia Yermakova –, whereas the French synchro swimming star, Virginie Dedieu gained her third World Championships title for the third time in line in free routine category.

Another purpose of the separation was to provide opportunity to more swimmers within a nation to compete in events of different requirement systems.

At the 2015 World’s in Kazan for instance Huang Xuenxen and Sun Wenyan, the two Chinese icons of synchro shared to silver and bronze medals for both events.

As for key differences: the duration of technical routines is shorter than the free routines, but most importantly, technical routines shall feature compulsory elements in a determined order matched with a high-level choreography. The order and composition of compulsory elements may not be changed as judges score routines according to degree of difficulty.

Every four years FINA Technical Synchronised Swimming Committee reconsiders possibilities to develop the discipline taking new challenges into account and sets goals for the following four years for competitors and the synchronised swimming community.