45-Year-Old Bill May Makes History In Artistic Swimming

2024-05-24

35 years is a long time to wait for a dream. But Bill May says it's worth it. Bill was 10 years old when he started artistic swimming. He fell in love with the sport and dreamed of going to the Olympics. "Every time someone would tell me no, I'd say watch me. You're going to see me at the Olympic Games. You're going to tell me no and I'm going to say yes. They're going to say that person followed his dreams and there he is at the Olympic Games," says Bill. The problem? Artistic swimming (formerly s...

35 years is a long time to wait for a dream. But Bill May says it's worth it.

Bill was 10 years old when he started artistic swimming. He fell in love with the sport and dreamed of going to the Olympics.

"Every time someone would tell me no, I'd say watch me. You're going to see me at the Olympic Games. You're going to tell me no and I'm going to say yes. They're going to say that person followed his dreams and there he is at the Olympic Games," says Bill.

The problem? Artistic swimming (formerly synchronized swimming) didn't allow men in Olympic competition.

Bill quit competitive swimming after watching his teammates win the 2004 Olympic bronze in Athens and put his aquatic talents to work in other ways.

He joined the cast of Cirque Du Soleil's "O" and spent 18 years touring with the production. But he never gave up advocating for men to be allowed to compete in his sport at the Olympics.

In 2022, the International Olympic Committee announced a rule change that allows up to two men per team in the artistic team competition starting this summer in Paris.

Bill says, "I think now that men are allowed, it's only going to open the doors for men to be in the sport and just from our families and people around the world to say, okay, this sport is inclusive."

This year, Bill was one of 12 Team USA swimmers to qualify for the Olympic team competition for the first time in 18 years. But only 8 swimmers can compete in Paris.

Head Coach Andrea Fuentes calls upcoming team cuts "heartbreaking." In this episode, you'll hear from Bill May and then Coach Fuentes on how committed she is to bringing a mixed team to the 2024 Summer Games.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Bill stays in peak mental and physical shape to compete at 45 with teammates half his age
Why gender equity matters in artistic swimming
How Bill is using his platform to inspire the next generation
What was it like being in Cirque Du Soleil for almost 20 years
How to stay true to a dream for decades
The tough choice Coach Andrea Fuentes has to make by June 8

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