syncro098.jpg (Photo : Reuters)
At the 9th FINA Synchronized Swimming World Trophy held in Beijing on Dec. 14, Sunday, host China was the big winner as the country's representatives won all four gold medals.
The sporting tournament includes four challenging events: synchro highlight routine, thematic duet, free team routine and free combination. The event was joined by participants from different countries including Canada, China, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Spain and Ukraine.
On Dec. 13, Saturday, China claimed two titles in synchro highlight routine and free team routine.
China's Li Ang and Ma Shuang executed an almost perfect synchro highlight routine to the tune of "Beautiful Girls." Their performance, held at the Yingdong Swimming Gymnasium, consequently collected a top-ranked 95.3330 points.
Anastasia Bayandina and Daria Bayandina from Russia grabbed the second spot with 3.4995 points behind Li and Ma.
The third place went to Mexican duo Delgado Blanca and Diosdado Nuria with 89.8335 points.
The Chinese team bagged the first place award as well for the theme Heroines event in free combination with an accumulated total of 96.3335 points. Russia and Spain grabbed the second and third place, respectively.
Yu Lele, a Chinese synchronized swimmer said: "It shows persistence and softness of women in a modern society. It's what we did to claim the title in National Games last year, and we put something new into it."
In the final tally after the four events were finalized, China came in first with a whopping grand total of 382.6665 points. The second place was awarded to Russia with 370.8335 points, while the third place to Canada with 362.8335 points.
Spanish coach Silvia Hernandez Mendizabal spoke of the event, saying, "we performed very well today with the materials. I like World Trophy better than other events because it is more creative and impressive."
