Mermaiding Olympics?

[Sakutama]

Hi everyone,

I assumed this has been covered and I'm sorry if it's a repeat post, I couldn't find it in the search.

Can mermaiding (merfolking?) be a sport? Is it one already? I'm quite scared of diving (I know, I'm very embarrassed to admit it!) but I'd still like to challenge myself as a mermaid somehow. I have a few ideas, mostly from watching clips of mermaiding schools and just brainstorming on my own.

- racing: the fastest mermaid. Might need to design a tail specifically for speed, maybe research the fastest fluke shape? It's my favorite idea so far.

- water dancing: I guess basically water ballet but with a mermaid theme.

- water gymnastics: flips, twirls, swimming through rings, and more.

- water tricks: ok maybe not a sport, but I think they deserve some attention! I saw a video of someone making a bubble ring and knocking over some rocks with it, surely that could be a category! Could judge bubble hearts and so on.

Anything else??

This is starting to sound like the mer-olympics, and I love it so far!!

[Mermaid Miradis]

This is actually a great idea, I haven't heard anything like it! Maybe also something with breath-holding and depth? :)

[Sakutama]

This is actually a great idea, I haven't heard anything like it! Maybe also something with breath-holding and depth? :)

Yes!!

Ans now I'm wondering if it could simply be a mer-con as well as a mer-lympics. So aside the athletic things, there could be competitions for tail designs. We could have a sort of runway event going in a pool with cams showing how they move in the water. Could have a fabric category and a silicone catagory. And artists could use the event to sell their handmade mermaid accessories, tails, artwork, music. It would be a blast! Maybe a stretch, but a karaoke content might fit the sirens song sort of element. My mind is just running with ideas! But the sad thing is, if someone could make it happen, I might not be able to go because I'm in Japan and it would likely do best in the US or somewhere with more mers. Boo. But I want it to happen anyway because it's just too amazing imagining it!

[Theta]

If you're looking for mermaid style diving (time/breath holding/depth) check out freediving :) It's not in the Olympics, but they do have their own competitions, records, and world championships. I also recommend the book "Deep" by James Nestor, it's all about freediving and not just in a sporting aspect :)