{"product_id":"swimming-pretty-the-untold-story-of-women-in-water-by-vicki-valosik-9781324096894","title":"Swimming Pretty : The Untold Story of Women in Water","description":"\u003cp\u003eSince the nineteenth century, tensions between beauty and strength, aesthetics and athleticism have both impeded and propelled the careers of female swimmers—none more so than synchronised swimmers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this deeply researched history, Vicki Valosik traces a century of aquatic performance for the first time, from Victorian variety theatre and carnival shows to the 1984 elevation of synchronised swimming to Olympic status.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWriting in eloquent prose, Valosik shows how early starlets like Lurline the Water Queen and Annette Kellerman boldly challenged restrictive codes set for women in water; more than just bathing beauties, they influenced lifesaving and physical-education programmes, dropped drowning rates and paved the way for new generations of female swimming athletes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBrimming with reverence and mesmerising detail, \"Swimming Pretty\" finally foregrounds an essential sport.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow, on the fortieth anniversary of synchronised swimming's elevation to Olympic status, \"Swimming Pretty\" honours its incredible history of grit, glamour and sheer athleticism.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vicki Valosik","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57176754815349,"sku":"9781324096894","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/sherlockandpages.com\/products\/swimming-pretty-the-untold-story-of-women-in-water-by-vicki-valosik-9781324096894","provider":"Sherlock \u0026 Pages","version":"1.0","type":"link"}