This year, Paris 2024 made history by allowing male athletes to compete in Olympic-level artistic swimming for the first time. Despite this milestone, no male swimmers were selected to participate in the competition, raising concerns about gender diversity in the sport.

Critics questioned the absence of men in the competition, with four-time world gold medallist Giorgio Minisini announcing his retirement following his exclusion from the Italian Olympic team. Minisini expressed his disappointment, highlighting the challenges faced by male athletes in the sport and the lack of gender inclusivity.

While men have been permitted to compete in artistic swimming at lower levels for years, the Olympic competition has remained exclusive to women until now. Despite the opportunity for male swimmers to participate, the 96 athletes selected for Paris 2024 across 18 countries were all women, prompting discussions about the need for greater male representation in the sport.

The decision not to include men in the Olympic teams has sparked debate on social media, with some users advocating for the creation of a separate "men division" in artistic swimming. However, others argued that the challenges of finding enough male athletes to form teams, along with the sport's emphasis on aesthetics and synchronization, could deter immediate male participation.

While some praised male swimmers like Bill May for their trailblazing efforts in artistic swimming, others highlighted the importance of selecting athletes based on performance rather than gender. The debate around gender inclusivity in sports, particularly in judged disciplines like artistic swimming, continues to evolve, raising questions about equal opportunities for both men and women in competitive athletics.

As Paris 2024 approaches, the absence of male athletes in Olympic artistic swimming serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to promote gender diversity and inclusivity in sports. Despite the current lack of male representation, discussions on enhancing opportunities for male athletes in the future remain at the forefront of the artistic swimming community's agenda.