Snicker if you wish. Guffaw for good measure. Bill May and other male synchronized swimmers 害羞草研究所� now called artistic swimmers 害羞草研究所� have heard the putdowns before.

But they害羞草研究所檙e getting the last laugh.

Men have competed in synchro at the lower levels for decades. Now they害羞草研究所檙e being included in the Olympics, meaning next year害羞草研究所檚 Summer Games in Paris.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 a huge opportunity for the sport to grow and attract more men,害羞草研究所� May told the Associated Press at the World Aquatics Championships. 害羞草研究所淏y keeping men out you害羞草研究所檙e limiting the sport. By including men you害羞草研究所檙e going to see an upshift in the popularity and the numbers.害羞草研究所�

May looks like a lean bodybuilder. He was among the first men to compete when And he worked for 17 years at Cirque du Soleil doing water-themed shows. He has come out of competitive retirement for a chance to compete at the Olympics.

害羞草研究所淭here has always been that misconception that it害羞草研究所檚 a female-only sport, or that it害羞草研究所檚 for wimps, or that it害羞草研究所檚 not a difficult sport,害羞草研究所� the 44-year-old May said. 害羞草研究所淎nyone that has anything negative to say about the sport 害羞草研究所� boy, female, anyone. Just try it and you害羞草研究所檒l know it害羞草研究所檚 the most difficult sport in the world.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所� the water ballet that made few waves below the flowery rubber caps and permanent smiles, It害羞草研究所檚 estranged from the sport introduced at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

The acrobatic team event, in particular, features lifts, throws and flips, and diving routines launched off the shoulders of teammates treading water below. It害羞草研究所檚 gymnastics on water and concussions are a risk.

Interested men often confront the stereotypes.

Beginning in elementary school, 18-year-old American Kenny Gaudet dreamed of being a synchronized swimmer. He made it, but it wasn害羞草研究所檛 easy.

害羞草研究所淚t makes me emotional just to think about the problems we all went through and the struggles we all had just to get a chance to swim and do what we love,害羞草研究所� said Gaudet who competed at this year害羞草研究所檚 worlds.

害羞草研究所淪o much bullying. So much slander. So much hate,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淛ust because of my gender, just because I害羞草研究所檓 a male in artistic swimming. When I first started I wanted to quit so many times. Growing up my peers would ask why I害羞草研究所檓 doing a female sport, why am I being like a girl and degrade me for doing what I love to do.害羞草研究所�

One aspect of Adam Andrasko害羞草研究所檚 job as the head of USA Artistic Swimming is recruiting men. He said there are about 100 participating in the United States, up from 25 just four years ago.

害羞草研究所淭here hasn害羞草研究所檛 been a good foundation of growth,害羞草研究所� Andrasko said. 害羞草研究所淵ou haven害羞草研究所檛 had the farm system.害羞草研究所�

A few countries at the world championships have male swimmers including the United States, Japan, Germany and China. Spain and Italy also have top competitors.

害羞草研究所淭here aren害羞草研究所檛 a lot of countries with strong males,害羞草研究所� in the international competition, Andrasko said, noting men often lack the flexibility to compete. 害羞草研究所淪o you might not see a lot of males swimming in the Olympics. I害羞草研究所檓 concerned it goes to the Olympic Games and we don害羞草研究所檛 see a male participating. I definitely have that fear.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭o this point,害羞草研究所� he added, 害羞草研究所渨omen are still far better at this sport than a man.害羞草研究所�

Another fear, apparently unfounded, is that women might resent the men competing in the sport. Men will compete in only team events at the Olympics. Teams have a maximum of eight members 害羞草研究所� with a limit of two men 害羞草研究所� which means men might crowd out some women.

There is no requirement for men to be included.

Asked about any acrimony, two-time American Olympian Anita Alvarez replied: 害羞草研究所淣o, not at all.害羞草研究所�

Alvarez has blacked out twice in the last two years while competing and had to be resuscitated. She害羞草研究所檚 been cleared to compete with no diagnosis except physical or mental exhaustion. Holding her breath for too long underwater is also suspected.

Men can add some physicality to routines, and their presence could lead to a wider audience. Alvarez also credits May with choreography skills that he picked up with Cirque du Soleil.

害羞草研究所淗aving the inclusion of both males and females will make it more open for young boys and young girls to dream of being in the Olympics, parents wanting to start their kids,害羞草研究所� Alvarez said.

She ran off her workout routine, sure to scare away men and women 害羞草研究所� equally.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e training eight-plus hours a day, treading water all day,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淵ou have to be able to count time and work with music. You have to be able to watch your patterns and stay in line. We don害羞草研究所檛 wear goggles when we compete. You害羞草研究所檙e holding your breath. You don害羞草研究所檛 touch the bottom. There are so many elements that go into it that people don害羞草研究所檛 see.害羞草研究所�

And we害羞草研究所檙e about to see more men trying it.

READ ALSO: World cycling body bans female transgender athletes from women害羞草研究所檚 events