Synchronised swimming-Don't forget the gelatine

By Emma Graham-Harrison

BEIJING (Reuters) - They flew to Beijing with suitcases full of sequin-spangled swimsuits, waterproof makeup, nose clips and gelatine to make sure that underwater each hair would stay in place.

When speed swimmers were fretting about whether a new hi-tech swimsuit could help them finish a few fractions of a second faster, the Spanish team were fighting a ban on their new battery powered, light-up costumes.

Synchronised swimming is an event that many sports fans find hard to take seriously, especially at a time when other athletes are running faster, jumping higher or at least pinning their opponents to the ground.

Even some fellow Olympians mock them.

"In Athens when we were getting drug testing an athlete walked by and saw us. He asked 'why do you need to do that, you don't even break a sweat'," said Russian multiple gold medallist Anastasia Ermakova.

But to reach the Games the women face gruelling training sessions up to 10 hours a day, six days a week. They swim, of course, but also do weights, gymnastics and endurance workouts.

"The water polo players train a lot less and get a lot more money than us. They're obviously cleverer," said Spanish duet silver medallist Andrea Fuentes with a wry smile.

The routines themselves are punishing, with lung-busting periods underwater while kicking, spinning and twirling their legs in perfect formation for spectators.