The History of Synchronized Swimming
Synchronized swimming had its beginning in Europe where it was performed without music
and was known as ornamental swimming. The word “synchronize” implies that two or
more phenomena occur at the same time or agree in time. Although the development of
synchronized swimming cannot be credited to one person or one group of persons, the
person most instrumental in giving impetus to pre-synchronized swimming activities was
Annette Kellermann through her swimming exhibitions at White City Park in Chicago.
Similar activities occurred in different sections of the country about the same time, and
seemingly without any communication or knowledge of what was taking place in another
section. It seems a search for a satisfying activity in the water where satisfaction was
derived from a goal other than speed was underway. People turned to form and skill in
swimming as alternatives for speed. Some added the element of drama and some added
music. In 1933, it appeared that water pageants based on Greek myths and water
animals might be the answer to that search for a satisfying activity in the water.
The term “synchronized swimming” was first introduced to a large group of people at the
1934 Chicago World’s Fair. Norman Ross coined the term to announce a group of rhythmic
swimmers performing in the Lagoon Theater accompanied by a twelve-piece band. The
Chicago Century of Progress and the New York World’s Fair helped popularize it in the U.S.
under the name “water ballet”. It received more publicity in 1939 through Billy Rose’s
Aquacade and his glamorous star, Eleanor Holmes. World recognition came through the
appearance of Esther Williams during the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1940 and her
subsequent films.
As it grew in popularity, the sport demanded more ability and physical fitness from the
competitors. Rules and systems of competition evolved and in 1948 it was accepted
internationally as a competitive sport. U.S. National Championship competition began in
1946 under the AAU with senior and junior levels including duet, trio and teams. Solo
competition was not begun until 1950. To further the more artistic side of synchronized
swimming, the International Academy of Aquatic Art was formed in the U.S. in 1955. This
group was formed largely because the AAU in 1954 decided to include five compulsory
figures in the routines to bring synchronized swimming more into line as a sport, with
execution as the end product and not a means to an end. Finally, the United States
Synchronized Swimming, Inc. succeeded the AAU as the national governing body for
synchronized swimming in the U.S.
History of the San Francisco Merionettes Club
The San Francisco Merionettes Club was established by the San Francisco Recreation and
Parks Department through the support of Helen Sender of Recreation and Parks. In 1956,
with the support of the Recreation and Parks Department and the leadership of founder
and Head Coach, Marion Olsen Kane, the Merionettes entered the world of Synchronized
Swimming. Kane, a former competitive racer from the Crystal Plunge, had become
interested in the sport after performing in aquatic shows to raise funds for her racing
team. As the club moved into the 1960’s, the Merionettes won their first National
Championship – the 1960 Outdoor Junior National Team title. In 1961 they went on to win
the first of many Senior National Championships. From 1961 through 1967, the
Merionettes were undefeated in the Senior National Team event. They were the first team
in the country to amass 14 consecutive national titles. In 1965, Pam Morris became the
first “Triple Crown” winner in the history of the sport by winning all routine events at the
Senior Nationals. In addition to their U.S. competition schedule, Merionettes swimmers
were part of a 1961 State Department Goodwill Tour of the Orient, exhibiting throughout
Japan, Guam, Korea, the Philippines, Okinawa and Formosa.
Senior swimmers in the club made headlines in 1963 when they swam the Golden Gate
channel. In 1967 the Merionettes swept the events at the Canadian Open
Championships, traveled to Amsterdam where they won the Criterium d’Euroe by 25
points, and sponsored the first International competition in the U.S. Margo McGrath
represented the U.S. and won the competition for San Francisco. In 1969, the Merionettes
were invited to participate in the first English national competition in London. They
followed this with a tour of England, Scotland and Wales. During their stay in London, a
film of the swimmers was made which was then used for training throughout England and
Europe. Four years later, they won their first National Championship. They continued their
leadership to amass seventy National Championship Titles, as well as, numerous
International triumphs. Marion Kane and four of her swimmers were honored by being
named to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The 1970’s started off with the Senior National Championships being held at Balboa Pool.
The “A” Team, with its routine “The Greatest Show on Earth”, regained the National Title.
They went on to exhibit at Expo “70” in Osaka, Japan and win the International
competition. In 1971, the club won every event in the Senior National Competition and the
Pan American Games. Heidi O’Rourke, our third “Triple Crown” winner, set a new record by
scoring all 10’s in both Indoor and Outdoor Senior National solo competition. In 1972 the
team exhibited in Chile, Colombia, Panama, and at the South American Games; then in
1973 traveled to West Germany, Holland, and Denmark.
In 1973 Marion Kane retired from the position of Head Coach. The position was then filled
by Lona Albano, a member of the Merionettes U.S. 1970 Senior Championship and 1968
Junior Championship teams. The club continued to represent San Francisco on a national
and international level.
In 1974, Kathy Kretschmer won the National solo title and teamed with Amy Miner to
capture the duet title. In 1978 the Merionettes senior team members were medalists in an
International competition in Mannheim, West Germany. In 1979 the City sponsored an
International competition for swimmers from West Germany and Mexico. The Merionettes
were medalists in all events.
The end of the 1970’s had inducted five more Merionettes into the Synchronized Swimming
Hall of Fame.
Although no longer the national champions, the Merionettes entered the 1980’s as one of
the “top teams” in the United States. In 1981 Lona Albano stepped down as head coach.
The Merionettes were winners of the 1982 Jesse Owens Games in Los Angeles and Junior
and Senior National Semi-finalists. In 1983 the senior swimmers traveled to Las Vegas to
perform at Caesar’s Palace.
In September 1986, Lona Albano again assumed the position of Head Coach. With a
growing membership, 1987 saw the team as medalists at all levels of local competition,
finalists in the West Zone Championships, semi-finalists in both Junior and Senior
Nationals, with three teams qualifying for the Regional Junior Olympics, and their 15-18
team qualifying for National Junior Olympics. In 1989 the Merionettes qualified two teams
for the national Age Groups and our first national Age Group soloist (11-12) Delainya
Kazarian, placed fourth.
Swimmers on the Merionettes represent the oldest club in the Pacific Association. In 1996
the Merionettes celebrated the club’s 40th anniversary as the representative of the City of
San Francisco in the sport of synchronized swimming. With each new group of swimmers
trying out for the club, there is the possibility of new champions. The club has a strong
history, but we are constantly looking to the future; striving to provide each and every
swimmer with the opportunity to progress and learn. The club provides them with the
chance to learn a sport that they can enjoy for many years, as they progress through
college and there is even a masters program for adults. The sportsmanship, self-
assurance, and poise they develop along the way will benefit them throughout their life.
In 2006, the Merionettes celebrated 50 years of synchronized swimming in San Francisco!
Synchronized swimming had its beginning in Europe where it was performed without music
and was known as ornamental swimming. The word “synchronize” implies that two or
more phenomena occur at the same time or agree in time. Although the development of
synchronized swimming cannot be credited to one person or one group of persons, the
person most instrumental in giving impetus to pre-synchronized swimming activities was
Annette Kellermann through her swimming exhibitions at White City Park in Chicago.
Similar activities occurred in different sections of the country about the same time, and
seemingly without any communication or knowledge of what was taking place in another
section. It seems a search for a satisfying activity in the water where satisfaction was
derived from a goal other than speed was underway. People turned to form and skill in
swimming as alternatives for speed. Some added the element of drama and some added
music. In 1933, it appeared that water pageants based on Greek myths and water
animals might be the answer to that search for a satisfying activity in the water.
The term “synchronized swimming” was first introduced to a large group of people at the
1934 Chicago World’s Fair. Norman Ross coined the term to announce a group of rhythmic
swimmers performing in the Lagoon Theater accompanied by a twelve-piece band. The
Chicago Century of Progress and the New York World’s Fair helped popularize it in the U.S.
under the name “water ballet”. It received more publicity in 1939 through Billy Rose’s
Aquacade and his glamorous star, Eleanor Holmes. World recognition came through the
appearance of Esther Williams during the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1940 and her
subsequent films.
As it grew in popularity, the sport demanded more ability and physical fitness from the
competitors. Rules and systems of competition evolved and in 1948 it was accepted
internationally as a competitive sport. U.S. National Championship competition began in
1946 under the AAU with senior and junior levels including duet, trio and teams. Solo
competition was not begun until 1950. To further the more artistic side of synchronized
swimming, the International Academy of Aquatic Art was formed in the U.S. in 1955. This
group was formed largely because the AAU in 1954 decided to include five compulsory
figures in the routines to bring synchronized swimming more into line as a sport, with
execution as the end product and not a means to an end. Finally, the United States
Synchronized Swimming, Inc. succeeded the AAU as the national governing body for
synchronized swimming in the U.S.
History of the San Francisco Merionettes Club
The San Francisco Merionettes Club was established by the San Francisco Recreation and
Parks Department through the support of Helen Sender of Recreation and Parks. In 1956,
with the support of the Recreation and Parks Department and the leadership of founder
and Head Coach, Marion Olsen Kane, the Merionettes entered the world of Synchronized
Swimming. Kane, a former competitive racer from the Crystal Plunge, had become
interested in the sport after performing in aquatic shows to raise funds for her racing
team. As the club moved into the 1960’s, the Merionettes won their first National
Championship – the 1960 Outdoor Junior National Team title. In 1961 they went on to win
the first of many Senior National Championships. From 1961 through 1967, the
Merionettes were undefeated in the Senior National Team event. They were the first team
in the country to amass 14 consecutive national titles. In 1965, Pam Morris became the
first “Triple Crown” winner in the history of the sport by winning all routine events at the
Senior Nationals. In addition to their U.S. competition schedule, Merionettes swimmers
were part of a 1961 State Department Goodwill Tour of the Orient, exhibiting throughout
Japan, Guam, Korea, the Philippines, Okinawa and Formosa.
Senior swimmers in the club made headlines in 1963 when they swam the Golden Gate
channel. In 1967 the Merionettes swept the events at the Canadian Open
Championships, traveled to Amsterdam where they won the Criterium d’Euroe by 25
points, and sponsored the first International competition in the U.S. Margo McGrath
represented the U.S. and won the competition for San Francisco. In 1969, the Merionettes
were invited to participate in the first English national competition in London. They
followed this with a tour of England, Scotland and Wales. During their stay in London, a
film of the swimmers was made which was then used for training throughout England and
Europe. Four years later, they won their first National Championship. They continued their
leadership to amass seventy National Championship Titles, as well as, numerous
International triumphs. Marion Kane and four of her swimmers were honored by being
named to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The 1970’s started off with the Senior National Championships being held at Balboa Pool.
The “A” Team, with its routine “The Greatest Show on Earth”, regained the National Title.
They went on to exhibit at Expo “70” in Osaka, Japan and win the International
competition. In 1971, the club won every event in the Senior National Competition and the
Pan American Games. Heidi O’Rourke, our third “Triple Crown” winner, set a new record by
scoring all 10’s in both Indoor and Outdoor Senior National solo competition. In 1972 the
team exhibited in Chile, Colombia, Panama, and at the South American Games; then in
1973 traveled to West Germany, Holland, and Denmark.
In 1973 Marion Kane retired from the position of Head Coach. The position was then filled
by Lona Albano, a member of the Merionettes U.S. 1970 Senior Championship and 1968
Junior Championship teams. The club continued to represent San Francisco on a national
and international level.
In 1974, Kathy Kretschmer won the National solo title and teamed with Amy Miner to
capture the duet title. In 1978 the Merionettes senior team members were medalists in an
International competition in Mannheim, West Germany. In 1979 the City sponsored an
International competition for swimmers from West Germany and Mexico. The Merionettes
were medalists in all events.
The end of the 1970’s had inducted five more Merionettes into the Synchronized Swimming
Hall of Fame.
Although no longer the national champions, the Merionettes entered the 1980’s as one of
the “top teams” in the United States. In 1981 Lona Albano stepped down as head coach.
The Merionettes were winners of the 1982 Jesse Owens Games in Los Angeles and Junior
and Senior National Semi-finalists. In 1983 the senior swimmers traveled to Las Vegas to
perform at Caesar’s Palace.
In September 1986, Lona Albano again assumed the position of Head Coach. With a
growing membership, 1987 saw the team as medalists at all levels of local competition,
finalists in the West Zone Championships, semi-finalists in both Junior and Senior
Nationals, with three teams qualifying for the Regional Junior Olympics, and their 15-18
team qualifying for National Junior Olympics. In 1989 the Merionettes qualified two teams
for the national Age Groups and our first national Age Group soloist (11-12) Delainya
Kazarian, placed fourth.
Swimmers on the Merionettes represent the oldest club in the Pacific Association. In 1996
the Merionettes celebrated the club’s 40th anniversary as the representative of the City of
San Francisco in the sport of synchronized swimming. With each new group of swimmers
trying out for the club, there is the possibility of new champions. The club has a strong
history, but we are constantly looking to the future; striving to provide each and every
swimmer with the opportunity to progress and learn. The club provides them with the
chance to learn a sport that they can enjoy for many years, as they progress through
college and there is even a masters program for adults. The sportsmanship, self-
assurance, and poise they develop along the way will benefit them throughout their life.
In 2006, the Merionettes celebrated 50 years of synchronized swimming in San Francisco!
About the San Francisco Merionettes
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