On Opening Night for the Rio 2016 Games, a Bit of Comedy Gold
Tonight’s the big night–let the Games begin!
If you’re not one for pomp and pageantry, here’s an Opening Night alternative: Synchronized Swimming, a 1984 “rockumentary,” in which two brothers (Harry Shearer and Martin Short) train together as Olympic hopefuls for the synchronized swimming event.
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Fun fact: Synchronized swimming competitions date back to 1891 Germany. Back then, they called it water ballet. It didn’t become an officially sanctioned Olympic event until mere weeks before the 1984 Los Angeles Games–and even then, only women could compete. #CrawlStrokeThroughHistory
While the sport is physically demanding, it’s also very quirky. Hence: comedy gold!
Russia’s Natalia Ishchenko and Svetlana Romashina, 2012 Olympics. Image via Buzzfeed (Alberto Pizzoli, photographer).