On a weekly basis I get the same perplexing question: “What is synchronized swimming?”

I could answer simply by saying we’re those crazy girls who put gelatin in their hair and dance in water, but that doesn’t even come close to describing this sport.

I’ve been a synchro swimmer for eight years and let me tell you, synchro is much more than putting five packets of Knox gelatin on your head, wearing sparkly suits and putting on gobs of makeup.

For me, synchro is not defined by all the glamour and gracefulness one sees above the water, rather the intensity and determination that takes place below the surface.

Synchro is physically and mentally draining. It demands dedication and time.

Synchro is getting out of bed at 5:30 a.m. in order to jump into the ice cold pool by 6:30 a.m. Synchro is telling yourself to stay underwater even though your body is screaming for oxygen. Synchro is singing along to every lyric of Beyoncé, which never gets old. When I say synchro is my life, I’m not kidding.

The audience tends to see the superficial parts of synchro and not the entire picture. However, taking a look below the surface you’ll see the true complexity of the sport.

As synchro swimmers we must complete physically challenging moves all while our heads are underwater.

We have to have strength, stamina, flexibility and athleticism, but also a strong sense of rhythm and the capacity to execute the sport’s many positions, and transitions. We have to perform these positions in the same way as our teammates. It’s the epitome of a team sport.

People make assumptions that synchro is easy or that “synchro isn’t a sport,” but what they don’t understand is each swimmer’s enormous dedication and effort is what makes the team.

Inside and outside of the pool I’ve learned that it’s important to never judge what I don’t understand until I know what it’s like to let breathing become insignificant.