Deckwork....

....at the start of the synchronized swimming event. Deckwork, for those of you who may not follow the Olympics, is "the mood setting moves performed on the side of the pond once the music starts, but before the swimmers enter the water." While their deckwork was impressive, it was during the swim portion where they really excelled, immediately exciting the judges---these hens were on fire during their routine! They were perfectly spaced and in total unison, those subtle webbed feet movements keeping each of them in position. In the bottom image I've captured them in what's known as a "vertical" move, tail feathers perfectly shaken and perfectly pointed toward the sky! The hens followed this vertical move with a superb combined spin & then right into a face down layout, never coming up for air, which shows amazing breath control during their underwater work! While their execution marks tied those of the first place team, it was their artistic impression marks that took them to the very top of the scoreboard, along with winning that sought-after gold medal!!  What a thrill to be here today to see this epic performance, and Congratulations to "The Hens" on their stellar accomplishment!  :))