The 14th FINA World Junior Synchronised Swimming Championships concluded on Sunday August 3, 2014 in Helsinki, Finland. The five-day event brought together 200 of the world’s rising synchronised swimming talents to compete in Solo, Duet, Team and Combination events.
On the final day, Japan delivered a tremendous performance to clinch the Combination title in a total 90.4000 points and upset Russia, the defending champion in all events, by just 0.1 point. The Russian squad performed brilliantly to pocket the remaining three titles on offer.
In the Duet, twin sisters Anastasia and Daria Bayandina (RUS) gave their country the first gold medal of the competition, totalling 168.8498 points. Anisiya Neborako completed the table with a second medal of this colour in the Solo, obtaining the highest score of 171.1350 while the number-1 nation extended their winning streak in the Team event, scoring a winning 167.9395 points.
Japan is the second most successful nation of the competition, having tallied an impressive four medals: one gold, two silver and one bronze. The country’s fresh face Asuka Tasaki took third in the Solo (168.7817 points) and finished close behind the Russians in the Duet with partner Kano Omata (168.7142 points). Japan proceeded to bag another silver medal in the Team event, scoring 166.0544 points, before stunning favourite Russia in the Combination event.
China confirmed their podium ambitions, claiming three bronze in the Duet with twin sisters Wang Liuyi and Qianyi (162.9053 points), Team (162.9142 points) and Combination (88.3667 points) events.
The last nation to earn a podium spot was Canada thanks to Jacqueline Simoneau’s second-place finish in the Solo, earning a total 170.8927 points.
Swimming News is courtesy of FINA.
