- Shortman has discussed the physical and emotional challenges of artistic swimming
- The 22-year-old will kick off her competition alongside teammate Thorpe on Friday
- The British pair aim to improve on their 14th place finish from the Tokyo Games
Team GB artistic swimmer Kate Shortman has cautioned fans against believing her ‘fake’ smile during competitions, which masks the true hardships of the sport.
Alongside her close friend Isabelle Thorpe, the 22-year-old is set to start her quest for gold on Friday evening. Often, artistic swimming is underestimated in terms of its rigorous physical and mental requirements due to the athletes’ appearances.
Shortman aims to clarify misconceptions, indicating that beneath the surface of the water, the reality differs greatly from the elegant costumes worn.
‘I cannot emphasize enough how challenging the sport is,’ she told The Sun. ‘With our glamorous costumes, it distracts from the reality that artistic swimming is incredibly demanding.’
‘We’re expected to smile so viewers don’t see the struggle. The smile is simply a façade.’
Kate Shortman has discussed the physical and mental toll of artistic swimming ahead of the start of the artistic swimming competition.
Shortman and teammate Isabelle Thorpe secured two silver medals at the European Aquatics Championships in June.
Shortman and Thorpe hope to better their performance from the Tokyo Olympic Games, where they finished in 14th place. At the 2023 European Games in Poland, the duo earned a bronze medal in the duet free, marking their first medal for Team GB.
Additionally, Shortman made history by being the first Brit to win a world medal in artistic swimming, clinching bronze in the women’s solo at the 2023 World Championships, followed by a notable silver and bronze in 2024.
These achievements have heightened their confidence, making the pursuit of a gold medal at the Paris Olympics seem attainable.
She added, ‘Before, winning Olympic gold felt like a distant fantasy. It was more of a dream than a goal. Now, we are determined and working tirelessly to make it a reality.’
