When Indy Synchro coach Sue Cosper was 34, she saw an ad in the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper for a synchronized swimming class at the natatorium at IUPUI.
To Cosper’s surprise, she was not only the sole adult, but also the only African-American in the class.
Little did Cosper know, she would begin coaching the sport after her first show a few months later.
“Shortly after the water show, our synchronized teacher did not show up for class. The head of the natatorium came to me and asked me if I would continue teaching the synchronized swimming class,” said Cosper.
It’s been 30 years and Cosper is still coaching.
In the United States, synchronized swimming continues to be a sport primarily made up of white females, but that is starting to change with the help of individuals like Cosper and fellow coach, Hadiah Wadud-Rice, both of whom are actively trying to diversify the sport.
Having coached and competed for more than 30 years, Cosper has been with the sport long enough to understand why synchronized swimming has been predominantly white.
“It’s predominantly Caucasian for lack of knowledge,” said Cosper. “When I entered the sport, I knew nothing of it, had heard nothing of it.”
Wadud-Rice noted that synchronized swimming has also lacked diversity because of the absence of pools in inner city schools and neighborhoods.
“Water sports are usually in more predominantly Caucasian and fairly well-to-do neighborhoods,” said Wadud-Rice.
However, as Cosper explained, synchronized swimming has become more diverse since she first began competing over 30 years ago.
“I was the first African-American to swim, coach and judge in the U.S.,” said Cosper. “There is at least one or two on every team now … that’s a huge change and that’s just within the last eight years.”
Wadud-Rice has also seen the sport’s diversity grow since her daughter began private lessons with Cosper.
“You are starting to see the dynamic change. When my daughter started in the sport 10 years ago, she was it, she was the only little Black girl I saw swimming,” said Wadud-Rice. “Now when we go, I see maybe three or five girls that are African-American and then there is a little more Hispanic.”
On a national level, Julie Swarts, executive director of USA Synchro, and others at USA Synchro have also seen the demographics change and are trying to help diversify the sport.
“It’s something that is evolving and is on our radar,” said Swarts. “We work very hard to try and provide synchronized swimming opportunities throughout the country. We would love more influx of whoever can swim into our sport.”
While USA Synchro tries to foster diversity nationwide, Cosper and Wadud-Rice are attempting to make the sport more inclusive locally.
In an attempt to cultivate interest in both genders, Cosper invites both males and females to join the Indy Synchro team and although it is difficult to get males interested, she continues to try.
According to Cosper, boys like learning flips but do not like to point their toes.
Adding to the lack of men, male synchronized swimmers do not have the same presence in the sport because they are not allowed to compete in the Olympics.
Wadud-Rice, who also serves as the official recruiter of the team, attempts to bring about change by teaching synchronized swimming classes at local Indianapolis pools.
“I conduct try-it and new swimmer synchro classes wherever I can. I currently hold classes at the Fishers and Fort Benjamin Harrison YMCA,” said Wadud-Rice.
“I am always actively looking for pools where there are not only African-American swimmers, but swimmers of all nationalities so that our team becomes more diverse in all cultures.”
As for the future of diversity in synchronized swimming, both Cosper and Wadud-Rice hope that the sport will become inclusive across the board.
For more information about Indy Synchro, call Dee Rice at (317) 640-0446 or Cheryl Giannuzzi at (317) 771-9034. Information can also be found at Indysynchro.org.
