The sport of synchronised swimming experienced historical moments on the first day of the 3rd FINA Synchro World Trophy, taking place in Madrid (ESP) from December 5-7. In the new event created for this competition, the Thematic Duet, the world discovered a new way of displaying this already spectacular discipline. The idea of this routine is to present a programme inspired by the culture of the host country (Spain); at the same time, swimmers are allowed to wear additional accessories during their presentation. All the eight duets present at the competition ‘played’ the game, but the ‘Award of Originality’ went to the pair from Great Britain: Olivia Allison and Jenna Randall marched on the platform with flamenco shoes and, to the surprise of the spectators and judges, continued their programme in the water with those shoes! Spain and Canada were also on the more original side of the Thematic Duet, with the Iberians (Andrea Fuentes and Gemma Mengual) covering one leg and the North Americans (Tracy Little and Elise Marcotte) covering both of them. For the first time in the history of a FINA synchronised swimming competition, swimmers performed with covered legs or shoes on their feet: an image that may shock the purists of the discipline, but that undoubtedly opens a wide range of new opportunities in the discipline. For the television crews and the photographers present in Madrid, it was certainly a pleasure to capture these moments; for the spectators and TV viewers, it surely constitutes a very positive and encouraging dimension in synchronised swimming.
But because this discipline is not only show but also a sport, the day finished with the predictable control of Mengual and Fuentes in the water. Silver medallists at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Spaniards took maximum advantage of the absence of the leading duet these last years: Russians Anastasia Ermakova and Anastasia Davydova (Olympic and World champions) who will most probably take a break in 2009, after Ermakova’s decision to take a pause after so many years of excellence. In Madrid, Mengual and Fuentes won both the Free Duet and Thematic Duet, getting the same points in both events: 99.000. While in the free presentation they got one perfect 10 (out of five judges), their thematic duet was awarded two 10s. Behind the Spaniards, the twin sisters Wenwen Jiang and Tingting Jiang, from China confirmed the excellent shape they displayed in 2007 and 2008, ranking second in both duet events. The Chinese had been fourth at the Olympics in Beijing, and were clearly better than their main challengers in the Spanish capital.In this group, we can naturally find Russia and Japan. Without their stars, the Europeans tried two different solutions in these duet sessions, both with one common characteristic: the youth of the swimmers involved. In the Free presentation, Anzhelika Timanina and Daria Korobova (both born in 1989) were third with 96.667, while in the thematic routine Aleksandra Patskevich (aged 20) and Svetlana Ponkratova (18) ranked fourth (95.000). In this event, Japan’s Saya Kimura and Maya Kimura were third (96.000), better than their teammates Mariko Sakai and Yukiko Inui, who were fifth in the free routine. Also for Japan, their best possible pair – Emiko Suzuki/Saho Harada – were not in Madrid.At the end of the day, Spain and China are the clear leaders of this Trophy (in which all the notes in the two duet events, plus the team and free combination marks, are added to a general ranking), with a group of three countries fighting for the third position: Russia has the advantage for now (191.667), but is closely followed by Japan (190.667) and Canada (190.334). The Canadians had a positive day in Madrid, with a fourth place in the free routine and a fifth position in the thematic presentation. Canada’s most experienced swimmer (Marie-Pier Boudreau Gagnon) paired with young revelation Chloe Isaac (aged 17) in duet free, while Tracy Little and Elise Marcotte displayed the thematic duet. Italy (187.667), Great Britain (177.333) and Egypt (163.667) close the ranking after Day 1, with the British delegation accomplishing a vital mission in Madrid: build-up a team that can represent the country in the best possible conditions at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
But because this discipline is not only show but also a sport, the day finished with the predictable control of Mengual and Fuentes in the water. Silver medallists at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Spaniards took maximum advantage of the absence of the leading duet these last years: Russians Anastasia Ermakova and Anastasia Davydova (Olympic and World champions) who will most probably take a break in 2009, after Ermakova’s decision to take a pause after so many years of excellence. In Madrid, Mengual and Fuentes won both the Free Duet and Thematic Duet, getting the same points in both events: 99.000. While in the free presentation they got one perfect 10 (out of five judges), their thematic duet was awarded two 10s. Behind the Spaniards, the twin sisters Wenwen Jiang and Tingting Jiang, from China confirmed the excellent shape they displayed in 2007 and 2008, ranking second in both duet events. The Chinese had been fourth at the Olympics in Beijing, and were clearly better than their main challengers in the Spanish capital.In this group, we can naturally find Russia and Japan. Without their stars, the Europeans tried two different solutions in these duet sessions, both with one common characteristic: the youth of the swimmers involved. In the Free presentation, Anzhelika Timanina and Daria Korobova (both born in 1989) were third with 96.667, while in the thematic routine Aleksandra Patskevich (aged 20) and Svetlana Ponkratova (18) ranked fourth (95.000). In this event, Japan’s Saya Kimura and Maya Kimura were third (96.000), better than their teammates Mariko Sakai and Yukiko Inui, who were fifth in the free routine. Also for Japan, their best possible pair – Emiko Suzuki/Saho Harada – were not in Madrid.At the end of the day, Spain and China are the clear leaders of this Trophy (in which all the notes in the two duet events, plus the team and free combination marks, are added to a general ranking), with a group of three countries fighting for the third position: Russia has the advantage for now (191.667), but is closely followed by Japan (190.667) and Canada (190.334). The Canadians had a positive day in Madrid, with a fourth place in the free routine and a fifth position in the thematic presentation. Canada’s most experienced swimmer (Marie-Pier Boudreau Gagnon) paired with young revelation Chloe Isaac (aged 17) in duet free, while Tracy Little and Elise Marcotte displayed the thematic duet. Italy (187.667), Great Britain (177.333) and Egypt (163.667) close the ranking after Day 1, with the British delegation accomplishing a vital mission in Madrid: build-up a team that can represent the country in the best possible conditions at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
RESULTS
Duet Free1.
Gemma Mengual/Andrea Fuentes (ESP) 99.0002.
Wenwen Jiang/Tingting Jiang (CHN) 97.0003.
Anzhelika Timanina/Daria Korobova (RUS) 96.6674.
Marie-Pier Boudreau Gagnon/Chloe Isaac (CAN) 95.6675.
Mariko Sakai/Yukiko Inui (JPN) 94.6676.
Elisa Bozzo/Giulia Lapi (ITA) 94.0007.
Olivia Allison/Jenna Randall (GBR) 88.0008.
Dalia Gebaly/Reem Wal (EGY) 82.333
Thematic Duet1.
Gemma Mengual/Andrea Fuentes (ESP) 99.0002.
Wenwen Jiang/Tingting Jiang (CHN) 97.0003.
Saya Kimura/Maya Kimura (JPN) 96.0004.
Aleksandra Patskevich/Svetlana Ponkratova (RUS) 95.0005.
Tracy Little/Elise Marcotte (CAN) 94.6676.
Elisa Bozzo/Giulia Lapi (ITA) 93.6677.
Olivia Allison/Jenna Randall (GBR) 89.3338.
Mahmoud Aziza/Yena Shaza (EGY) 81.333
TOTAL DUET RESULTS
1. ESP 198.0002.
CHN 194.0003.
RUS 191.6674.
JPN 190.6675.
CAN 190.3346.
ITA 187.6677.
GBR 177.3338.
EGY 163.667
Written by Pedro Adrega
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