Action in the pool was intense this weekend, with two legs of the FINA Artistic Swimming World Series in Quebec City (CAN), from May 30-Junie 1, and in Barcelona (ESP), from May 31-June 2. They were respectively the seventh and eighth event of the circuit, before the Super Final of the competition, taking place in Budapest (HUN) on June 14-16.
In Canada, the team of China controlled operations, with six gold medals out of the 10 finals at stake. The Asian powerhouse was the strongest in all Duet events (technical, free and mixed), but also shone in the Team (technical and free) competition. To this positive outcome, much contributed the comeback of renowned duet Huang Xuechen/Sun Wenyan, silver medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games.
In Solo, Yukiko Inui, from Japan, continued to display her excellent shape, winning both the technical and free programs. The remaining two titles in Quebec City went to the home squad, the best in the Free Combination and Highlight Routine finals. The Canadians – with Jacqueline Simoneau leading the team – earned four additional silver medals, plus two bronze.
The remaining countries with podium presences in Quebec City were Hungary, Kazakhstan, Korea, Colombia and Germany.
Medalists in Quebec City (CAN):
Solo Technical
1. Yukiko Inui (JPN), 91.6105; 2. Jacqueline Simoneau (CAN), 89.4814; 3. Monica Arango (COL), 78.6503
Solo Free
1. Yukiko Inui (JPN), 93.1667; 2. Jacqueline Simoneau (CAN), 90.8667; 3. Marlene Bojer (GER), 80.8333
Duet Technical
1. Huang Xuechen/Sun Wenyan (CHN), 92.8049; 2. Yukiko Inui/Megumu Yoshida (JPN), 91.7778; 3. Jacqueline Simoneau/Claudia Holzner (CAN), 88.6612
Duet Free
1. Huang Xuechen/Sun Wenyan (CHN), 94.5567; 2. Yukiko Inui/Megumu Yoshida (JPN), 92.9667; 3. Jacqueline Simoneau/Claudia Holzner (CAN), 90.1000
Mixed Duet Technical
1. Zhang Yayi/Shi Haoyu (CHN), 84.0853; 2. Aigerim Issayeva/Olzhas Makhanbetiyarov (KAZ), 72.0954
Mixed Duet Free
1. Cheng Wentao/Shi Haoyu (CHN), 84.1000
Team Technical
1. China, 93.5677; 2. Canada, 87.7736; 3. Hungary 75.7132
Team Free
1. China, 95.3667; 2. Canada, 89.9333; 3. Hungary, 77.4333
Free Combination
1. Canada, 80.0667; 2. Korea, 77.5667; 3. Hungary, 77.3000
Highlight Routine
1. Canada, 89.3667; 2. Hungary, 77.6333
In Barcelona, Ukraine and Russia were the strongest of the field, with respectively five and four titles. Marta Fiedina (Solo Free, and Duet Technical and Free) was the hero of the Ukrainian delegation, who also won the Free Combination and Highlight Routine events. From the Russian side, their talented swimmers were the best in the Team (Technical and Free) finals, while Aleksandr Maltsev and Mayya Gurbanberdieva successfully paired for the gold in the mixed Duet competition.
The crowd in Barcelona was happy to celebrate the title of local star Ona Carbonell in the Solo Technical routine, namely beating Fiedina (silver medalist).
Great Britain, Japan, France, USA, Italy and Mexico also had their representatives winning at least one medal in the Spanish meet.
Medalists in Barcelona (ESP):
Solo Technical
1. Ona Carbonell (ESP), 90.0730; 2. Marta Fiedina (UKR), 89.9790; 3. Kate Shortman (GBR), 82.4228
Solo Free
1. Marta Fiedina (UKR), 91.7000; 2. Mako Sawada (JPN), 85.6333; 3. Kate Shortman (GBR), 85.6000
Duet Technical
1. Marta Fiedina/Anastasiya Savchuk (UKR), 91.0077; 2. Sara Saldana/Paula Ramirez (ESP), 86.8509; 3. Charlotte Tremble/Laura Tremble (FRA), 85.7457
Duet Free
1. Marta Fiedina/Anastasiya Savchuk (UKR), 93.1000; 2. Ona Carbonell/Paula Ramirez (ESP), 90.3000; 3. Charlotte Tremble/Laura Tremble (FRA), 87.6000
Mixed Duet Technical
1. Mayya Gurbanberdieva/Aleksandr Maltsev (RUS), 90.4055; 2. Natalia Vega/Bill May (USA), 87.5144; 3. Emma Garcia/Pau Ribes (ESP), 84.9049
Mixed Duet Free
1. Mayya Gurbanberdieva/Aleksandr Maltsev (RUS), 92.4000; 2. Manila Flamini/Giorgio Minisini (ITA), 90.7333; 3. Emma Garcia/Pau Ribes (ESP), 88.8667
Team Technical
1. Russia, 95.3284; 2. Spain, 89.2455; 3. Mexico, 85.8775
Team Free
1. Russia, 97.2333; 2. Ukraine, 94.2333; 3. Spain, 91.8000
Free Combination
1. Ukraine, 92.6332; 2. Japan, 87.5668; 3. Great Britain, 83.2000
Highlight Routine
1. Ukraine, 92.8333; 2. Spain, 90.1000; 3. France, 87.2000
Calendar 2019:
1. Paris (FRA): 28 February – 3 March
2. Alexandroupolis (GRE): 5 – 7 April
3. Kazan (RUS): 19-21 April
4. Tokyo (JPN): 27 – 29 April
5. Beijing (CHN) : 4 – 6 May
6. Greensboro (USA): 24 – 26 May
7. Quebec City (CAN): 30 May – 1 June
8. Barcelona (ESP): 31 May – 2 June
*Super Final – Budapest (HUN): 14 – 16 June
You can read detailed daily news reports on FINA website and results are also available on FINA mobile app.
You can also rewatch the competition on VoD on FINAtv.
