L-R: Artistic swimmers Elora Wilson, Naomi Fidek, Alexis Squire, Kassidee Weimer and Zadie Anderson. The girls competed as a group in the 16-20 age category, winning 2nd place in the technical team and 3rd place in the free team events. (Supplied)

By Alessia Proietti

Red Deer Silhouettes Swim Club

Red Deer brings home medals and positivity from artistic swimming competition

Apr 29, 2022 | 2:26 PM

Add artistic swimming — previously known as synchronized swimming — to the list of sports Red Deerians are excelling at.

The Red Deer Silhouettes Swim Club (RDSSC) competed at the Wildrose Classic Provincial Championship, part of the Alberta Artistic Swimming Competition, in Lethbridge from April 22-24.

A successful trip, 17 local athletes attended, with several bringing home gold, silver and bronze medals:

• Figures (Individual):
  • 1^st place – AWAD (Athlete with a disability): Gracie Scheyen
• Teams (Group):
  • 2^nd place (Technical team) & 3^rd place (Free team) – Ages 16-20: Naomi Fidek, Zadie Anderson, Elora Wilson, Alexis Squire, Kassidee Weimer
• Extra routine (Solo and Duet):
  • 1^st place – AWAD Solo: Gracie Scheyen
  • 1^st place – 13-15 Solo: Kassidee Weimer
  • 2^nd place – 16-20 Duet: Alexis Squire, Zadie Anderson
  • 3^rd place – 16-20 Solo: Naomi Fidek

One medalist, 13-year-old Kassidee Weimer, said she felt amazing winning first place for her, as she described it, dramatic but flowing solo.

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“It was the best I’ve ever done all season and I totally kicked butt,” she said.

Swimming for around five years with the club, Weimer registered after enjoying an artistic swimming summer camp which perfectly matched her passion for being in the water. Now swimming in an advanced age category, she loves the sport, especially standing upside down underwater.

“I get to express myself with my arm and leg movements,” she said.

Weimer’s mother, Valarie Anderson, had tears of joy watching her daughter walk across the stage to receive her award. Anderson loves that her daughter enjoys the sport as it promotes positive fitness and boosts self-esteem.

“You go to the competitions and see these young ladies of all shapes and sizes in bathing suits,” she said. “All these girls know they’re rocking their looks. They look awesome, they feel awesome, and that’s important especially in this day and age when young ladies are really struggling with their body image, and they see what can be online and in magazines.”

“This sport truly does need young ladies of every size because if you are a bigger girl and a stronger girl, you may be underneath the water pushing up that smaller girl in the highlights,” said Anderson. “I just really love that this sport welcomes all young ladies, no matter what.”

Though the club is predominantly female, it is open to males.

Head Coach Lauren Dial remembers when she was a competitor years ago, beginning with the club in 2001 at the age of 11. Taking a pause for university and family life, she returned to coach in 2016 before becoming head coach in 2018.

“I really love the camaraderie with the teammates. You’re with them nine to 14 hours per week training, so you make really good friendships,” she said.

The sport has numerous benefits such as learning discipline, technique, determination, taking constructive criticism, and how to lose and win graciously.

“The physical nature of the sport was definitely appealing, and as a coach, I really love the creative aspect. Working with athletes and helping them reach their goals is really fulfilling.”

Watching from poolside, Dial is very proud of her team’s determination in front of the judges.

“It was a really great feeling to know that all the hard work we put in, the hours in the water, the workouts, the drills, the repetition, paid off.”

The Red Deer Silhouettes Swim Club, formerly known as the Red Deer Synchronized Swim Club, has been a non-profit registered society since 1987. It is the only artistic swim club in central Alberta, and is open to all, with competitive and recreational options.

A complete list of results is on the Alberta Artist Swimming website, under the Wildrose Classic category.