The story of Bill May, the greatest male synchronized swimmer who ever lived, and his improbable quest for Olympic gold.
The Russian, pale and sour, ballet-walks heel-toe, heel-toe onto the pool deck in his bathing suit, which is designed to look like a communist-era military uniform. It consists of shorts, a real fold-down collar, actual epaulets and a black cross-body strap for ammunition. A woman, the Russian’s partner, all nose and eyebrows in a lavender bathing suit decorated with appliqué flowers, prances out behind him tragically, and they embrace in this brightly lit arena in Kazan, at the first synchronized swimming world championship to include men. There is a TV camera here,and it projects the swimmers onto large screens for those in the cheap seats, and it immediately zooms in on the hammer and sickle insignia on the Russian’s belt so that it seems to fill the arena. This elicits an eardrum-melting roar from the crowd, where a woman in the stands puts her hand to her face. A man nods heavily with memory. Did that judge just wipe away a tear? These are only the prelims in the mixed-gender technical duet event, but one day later during the finals, the audience, many of whom are here now, will react exactly the same way, as if their hearts are being broken anew for their tragic communist pasts.
Bill May, the United States’ lone male synchronized swimmer, stands in the wings of the arena, a smile of teeth, teeth, teeth spread across his face. Bill May’s smile is a wonder. When he leaves a room, its silhouette remains, like when you close your eyes after a camera flashes and all you can see is the bulb’s yellow outline. He is still damp from his own routine, a red, white and blue warm-up suit covering his coral Speedo. If you didn’t know Bill, you’d think this big smile, the one he wears as he watches his greatest competitors slow-motion-kill the home-team crowd dead, is his real smile.
This story is from the April 11,2016 edition of ESPN The Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 11,2016 edition of ESPN The Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Williamson Is Ready For Takeoff
His dunks inspire awe, his all-around game will make him millions. But to understand his legend, you have to go back to the place where it all started.
The Two Steps That Changed The NBA
From outdoor courts in Serbia to the NBA hardwood, this is the inside story of how the Eurostep has become the most unguardable move in basketball.
The One And Only Naomi Osaka
She’s a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside a blistering forehand: For all her growing fame, the world’s No. 1 remains tough to define—just the way she likes it.
Nick Bosa Reveals The Pain Of His Unfinished OSU Business
The NFL draft’s most disruptive force of nature reveals how painful it was to sit out last year—and how hungry he is to start sacking again.
The Future Of Football Is You
To heck with Belichick. Out of the way, McVay. You, dear reader, now control the huddle in a new football experiment with an audacious vision.
Reintroducing Odell Beckham Jr., The Most Electrifying Question Mark In Football
Inside Odell Beckham Jr.’s quest to recapture the magic that made him the NFL’s most eye-catching talent.
At The Speed Of Bryce
What’s it like to spend a day in the shoes of Stanford’s Bryce Love, the fastest running back in college football? To find out, first you have to get him to slow down.
The Small, Good Thing
The anniversary of 9/11 reminds us that in times of catastrophe, sports connect us to the remarkable and shine a light back to the routine.
An NFL Vet Reveals What It's Like To Suddenly Confront Your Football Mortality
A former pro reveals the dilemma every NFL player confronts: Now that I’m here, what do I do next?
Nick Saban- More Than A Scowl
He's seeking his sixth title in 10 years. His power and influence have never been greater. But there's a side to the legend that you don't know.