Most people see artistic swimming as “just dancing in the water.” The movements look graceful and effortless, but the reality beneath the surface is far more demanding. “I tried to go upside down and do vertical sculling like the artistic swimmers, but it is much harder than it looks to keep your legs out of the water at that height!” Sonia Mazev (10)

Athletes must hold their breath for up to a minute, lift teammates above their heads, and perform complex routines upside down without touching the bottom of the pool. For Hevin Park, these challenges are what make the sport so exciting.

As a sophomore at Yorba Linda High School, she has already competed at the international level in artistic swimming, a sport that requires strength and control far beyond what most people expect from a high school athlete. She has represented the United States in major competitions, pushing herself both physically and mentally.

Her journey into the sport began at a young age. At eight years old, Hevin learned how to swim at her community pool “because [her] mom wanted to make sure [she] would be safe on a cruise and knew how not to drown,” reveals Hevin Park (10). What started as a safety lesson quickly turned into something more.

“I ended up loving the water and never wanted to get out of the pool,” Hevin said.

Her interest deepened after watching a video of the Russian National Team at the 2016 Olympics. “I thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Hevin emphasized. “I started trying to copy what the swimmers were doing at my community pool, and that’s how I got started in artistic swimming.”

Artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, combines swimming, dance, and gymnastics. Athletes perform choreographed routines to music while staying in sync with their teammates. Judges use a detailed scoring rubric, giving points for how difficult the moves are and how clean, synchronized, and artistic the routine looks overall.

Looking back, Hevin’s hard work has already paid off. One of her most memorable moments came at the 2025 Youth World Championships in Greece, where she competed internationally for the first time.

“Being able to represent my country and compete with athletes from all over the world was really meaningful,” Hevin explained.

Before the competition, she trained full-time in Las Vegas with some of the top artistic swimmers in the country. The experience pushed her to improve and prepare at a higher level.

To handle the pressure of competing, Hevin follows a routine before every performance. “Right before I go out, I always take three deep breaths, do arm circles, and finish with five jumps.” This routine helps her stay calm and focused before entering the pool, “no matter how big the competition is,” Hevin added.

She also looks up to athletes outside of her sport, including Olympic gymnast Suni Lee, snowboarder Chloe Kim, and figure skater Yuna Kim. Their stories “have all been major role models for me because of their stories.” Hevin further describes, “Suni Lee’s journey, especially overcoming sickness and pressure to succeed at the highest level, shows how important perseverance and mental strength are. Chloe Kim inspires me with how she balances confidence and joy while competing on the world’s biggest stages, even at such a young age. Yuna Kim’s story stands out to me because of her consistency, grace, and ability to handle immense expectations while still delivering when it mattered most.”

Outside of the pool, Hevin enjoys watching Formula 1, trying new foods, and making creative drinks at home. Still, artistic swimming remains where her passion shines the most.

For younger athletes, Hevin offers simple advice: “enjoy the process and not rush [its] journey, because consistent effort and patience matter more than instant results.” 

As she continues to balance high school life with elite competition, Hevin Park shows that dedication and curiosity can take students farther than they ever expect. Sometimes all the way across the world.