Career
Because of his gender, May was not allowed to compete in the 2004 Summer Olympics. He explained why he became involved, "I did competitive swimming there and the synchro class was right after it, so we couldn"t go home until she was done. lieutenant was either try it with her or sit outside the pool and watch her, so my mom told me to try it, just to be in the water and be doing something."
May began taking lessons and later performed with a local team, the Syracuse Synchro Cats.
After the Synchro Cats disbanded, he performed with the Oswego Lakettes.
In 1996, at age 16, May moved to Santa Clara, California. He tried out for the Santa Clara Aquamaids, one of the top synchronized swimming programs in the United States, and was accepted into the junior A squad.
May eventually was promoted to the Aquamaid"s top "A" squad. Because May is male, he was barred from competing in the 1999 Pan American Games.
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) allowed May to compete in its sanctioned events.
In 1999, May finished first in duet at the Swiss Open and French Open. A hopeful for the 2004 Summer Olympics, May was not allowed to compete after the United States Synchronized Swimming Federation (USSSF) declined to ask for inclusion of a mixed pairs event at the games. Said May, "lieutenant was a huge disappointment and it was very humbling.
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lieutenant"s a political sport in that it"s kind of like a clique at school." Replied Ginny Jasontek, President of the USSSF, "We cannot allow men in a women"s sport."
In 2008, May performed in Cirque du Soleil"s water-based show, O. He was paid $100 for each performance. With the mixed duet added to the World Championship program Bill May returned to the sport after a 10 year retirement. Maltsev and Valitova had been a close 2nd to May and Jones in the technical routine event.
Lum had been May"s duet partner way back in 1998 in making history in winning the duet at the United States Synchronized Swimming Championships, and a silver at the 1998 Goodwill Games.
