Olympics 2024: Watch USA artistic swimmers moonwalk upside down underwater during Michael Jackson routine

The USA synchronised swimming team have turned heads at the 2024 Paris Olympics after performing a Michael Jackson-inspired routine. Check out footage and fan reactions below.

On Monday (August 5), the US artistic swimming team took to the Paris games to perform their technical routine, which paid tribute to late pop icon Michael Jackson.

During the performance, each of the athletes wore an outfit inspired by the singer, and delivered the routine to his 1987 classic track ‘Smooth Criminal’.

Unsurprisingly, it went down a storm with fans watching at home, particularly during one moment where the team flipped underwater and performed an underwater, upside-down moonwalk in tribute to the singer.

GIRL THEY MOONWALKED???????? pic.twitter.com/bUHe6aMtwg

— eme (@maverickruise) August 6, 2024

Now, viewers have been taking to social media to share their thoughts on the viral moment.

“I can keep watching this as a sport permanently because this is too smooth,” one wrote on X/Twitter, with another responding: “The hard work they must have put into their passion, So beautiful to watch”.

A third wrote: “This will always be the Olympic sport that impresses me the most. In total synchronisation, maintaining the same height and doing it without touching the ground. And then they do wild things like propel each other out of the water? It’s incredible.”

Check out more viewer responses below.

I can keep watching this as a sport permanently because this is too smooth.

Team USA with their iconic Synchronized Swimming performance, with Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal.

pic.twitter.com/hBdYTwJjlA

— Omolomo (@Omolomo_o) August 6, 2024

The hard work they must have put into their Passion, So beautiful to watch

— Folusho (@FlushyBuzzz) August 6, 2024

This will always be the Olympic sport that impresses me the most. In total synchronization, maintaining the same height and doing it without touching the ground. And then they do wild things like propel each other out of the water? It’s incredible. https://t.co/yLHIFZIKOB

— Danny-boy Fenton (@avernuson) August 6, 2024

synchronized swimming is maybe the most impressive team event of the olympics. you can't just throw a hali on the team and win gold… https://t.co/gRLeWplYYy

— HONEY NUT CHOURIOS (63-49) (@jeremywick) August 6, 2024

guys here is their full performance in case you haven't seen it yet!! my flabbers have really never been this type of gasted before pic.twitter.com/z6mNUxCQ2O

— eme (@maverickruise) August 6, 2024

I would of drowned 10 seconds in doing the moon walk upside down in water is insane

— ✭ ß FĘŃD i i (@iambfendii) August 6, 2024

In the event, Team USA finished in fourth place after being given a score of 282.7567. The result put the team two points behind Japan and five behind Spain. China lead the way in first place by an impressive 21 points.

Following the performance on Monday, Team USA took part in the free routine performance yesterday (August 6), and will take place in the final later today.

At time of writing, Team USA is winning overall in terms of the medal table for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with 24 Gold medals, 31 silver and 31 bronze medals under their belt. They also have the most medals overall, with China currently in second place and Australia in third.

The events kicked off on July 26, with an epic opening ceremony along the river Seine featuring Lady Gaga performing French cabaret song ‘Mon truc en plumes’ and Gojira performing French Revolution song ‘Ah Ça Ira!’ with opera singer Marina Viotti.

Since the events began the following day, both Beyoncé and Taylor Swift took part in promotional videos showing their support for Team USA, Snoop Dogg turned heads for his dapper appearance at the dressage event – despite being scared of horses – and Flavor Flav went viral as official ‘hype man’ for the USA water polo team.

It was also reported that, despite false claims of her earning $2million (£1.5million), Celine Dion did not receive any payment for her opening ceremony performance, and Gojira saw a mammoth spike in listeners following their set.

The closing ceremony, which will take place this Sunday (July 11) is reportedly set to depict a “futuristic world where the Games have disappeared”, and feature appearances from Phoenix, Air and Tom Cruise.

The post Olympics 2024: Watch USA artistic swimmers moonwalk upside down underwater during Michael Jackson routine appeared first on NME.

Olympics 2024: Watch USA artistic swimmers moonwalk upside down underwater during Michael Jackson routine

Olympics 2024: Watch USA artistic swimmers moonwalk upside down underwater during Michael Jackson routine

Olympics 2024: Watch USA artistic swimmers moonwalk upside down underwater during Michael Jackson routine

Olympics 2024: Watch USA artistic swimmers moonwalk upside down underwater during Michael Jackson routine

Olympics 2024: Watch USA artistic swimmers moonwalk upside down underwater during Michael Jackson routine