SWIM SUPERSTAR JOINS TEAM OCEAN ROSTER
We’re thrilled to welcome swim superstar Anita Alvarez as our newest Team Ocean Captain! She is a silver Olympic medal winning artistic swimmer with the USA Artistic Swimming Team, and we’re excited to work together to protect our ocean. Keep reading to learn more about her unique perspective and interest in ocean health!
Q: How has training in a perfectly clean pool shaped the way you see the state of our ocean?
A: Training in clean pool water every day has made me realize how much we take health water for granted. Water is my workplace, my passion, my second home, and a place where I feel most alive, so it’s heartbreaking to think that so many oceans and waterways are being polluted and harmed. Being so connected to water through my sport has made me appreciate how important it is to protect it—not just for athletes, but for everyone and everything that depends on it.
Q: How do you see artistic swimming as a platform for storytelling beyond sport?
A: Artistic Swimming is such a unique combination of athleticism, emotion, and creativity. Every routine tells a story without words, and that gives us the ability to connect with people on a deeper level. We can inspire conversations about issues bigger than sport…like protecting our ocean and environment. Water is quite literally our stage, so using that platform to advocate for it feels authentic and meaningful.
Q: What does water allow you to express that land never could?
A: Water allows a feeling of freedom that is impossible to recreate on land. It gives movement a softness and fluidity while still demanding incredible strength and control. In the water, I feel weightless, expressive, and connected to the music and my teammates. It is like entering another world where emotion can be communicated through movement in a way that words sometimes can’t.
Q: Our ocean generates half of the oxygen on earth— what role does breath play in shaping your artistry?
A: Breath is at the center of everything we do in artistic swimming. It teaches discipline, control and presence. Holding our breath underwater also gives us a deeper appreciation for oxygen and the role our ocean plays in sustaining life. Breath connects us to our environment and we rely on it every second, even when we don’t realize it.
““Water has shaped my life, my sport, and some of my greatest passions and dreams. I am both proud and excited to join Protect Where We Play because protecting our oceans means protecting the places that inspire, challenge, and connect all of us. The water gives us so much – it is our responsibility to give back and protect it for future generations.”
—Anita Alvarez, Silver Medal Olympic Artistic Swimmer
Q: At every performance, and in every body movement, the team brings the passion; how can we bring that same energy to ocean conservation?
A: I think it starts with realizing that small actions matter and that passion is contagious. In artistic swimming, success only happens when everyone commits fully to a shared goal. Ocean conservation is the same way. If people bring even a fraction of the care, teamwork and dedication they bring to sports and everyday passions, we can create real change together.
Q: What would you say to artistic swimming fans about getting involved in ocean conservation?
A: You don’t have to do something huge to make a difference. Small choices (reducing waste, eliminating plastic use, or simply educating yourself) can add up quickly. As artistic swimmers and fans, we already share a love and respect for water, so protecting it is something we can all be part of!
It’s time to dive in! By joining Anita and taking action to #ProtectWhereWePlay, you’re protecting the ocean and the future of the sports and entertainment we all love.
