From race to grace: why these Regina men took up artistic swimming

Two Regina men are stepping outside their comfort zones to train for a sport that hasn't traditionally included men.

Jacob Korpan and Jake Morris are taking on artistic swimming, often referred to as synchronized swimming. 

Artistic swimming is ballet in the water where powerful swimmers work as a team to perform graceful, synchronized routines.

The mixed gender duets category made its world championship debut in 2015, and participants in the co-ed sport will find out in 2025 if it will get a spot in the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Jacob Korpan, 23, is a national level swimmer who has always had his eye on the Olympics. But to chase that dream he's switching his focus from race to grace. Jake Morris, 22, is an elite water polo player who jumped into artistic swimming with both feet. They were both recruited by the Regina Synchronized Swimming Club, which is lead by head coach Natalie Good. 

Professional swim coach Jason Cawkwell trained Korpan when he was young, and coached Morris in water polo. He convinced them both to give artistic swimming a shot.

"I didn't want to kind of promote it in kind of a sarcastic, ironic or teasing [way]. I was genuine and sincere that this might be something they would want to do," Cawkwell said. 

Cawkwell said he knew that both Korpan and Morris could handle any stigma that may come from competing in a sport considered strictly for women for more than a century. He said the two men are breaking barriers. 

"They're very strong characters. They are very comfortable in themselves. They are mature enough to be able to do this without worrying about other people are saying." 

Meanwhile, Morris said playing water polo gave him skills that are useful in artistic swimming. 

"A lot of the movement skills are similar. And the egg-beater, which is the biggest part. [It's] just very heavy in egg-beater for water polo. So, It comes in handy in synchro as well," Morris said. 

The eggbeater in swimming is a style of kicking where the swimmer's legs alternate in one-legged breaststroke kicks, holding the swimmer afloat. 

Korpan said he had to switch styles when transferring from national level swimming to artistic. 

"When I race swimming, I am getting my heart rate as high as I can before my event. I am go, go, go, slapping my chest, spraying water on myself. Just buzzing with energy. But with syncho you have to be very calm," Korpan said.