Spain won the 3rd FINA Synchronised Swimming World Trophy that took place in Madrid (ESP) from December 5-7, 2008. At home, Gemma Mengual and her teammates dominated the operations by triumphing in the four events of the competition – Duet Free, Duet Thematic, Team Free and Free Combination. Russia had won the previous two editions of the World Trophy, held in 2006 in Moscow (RUS) and 2007 in Rio de Janeiro (BRA).

Behind Spain, whose swimmers had been silver medallists in the Duet and Team event at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (CHN), the team of China confirmed its recent evolution, concluding in the second position of the overall ranking – this classification is made by totalling the scores of the four events of the Trophy. The Asian squad was also second in every session of the competition, concluding with a final score of 390.666. It was China’s first participation in the World Trophy.

In a process of renovation, both Russia and Japan presented very young squads. Despite the lack of international experience, those competitors proved that they will be capable of fighting for the top-positions in the next major rendezvous. The Russians, without their stars Anastasia Ermakova/Anastasia Davydova (Olympic and World champions), who decided to make a break in 2009, finished third of the overall ranking, while Japan (also without their duet Emiko Suzuki/Saho Harada, definitively retired) concluded in the fourth position. The Japanese had been third in 2006 and also fourth in 2007.

Canada and Italy were fifth and sixth respectively, while the two last places of the ranking were occupied by Great Britain (seventh), building-up a team for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and Egypt (eighth), whose swimmers are taking this competition (since is first edition) as an additional occasion to gain international experience.

The 3rd FINA World Trophy was marked by the introduction of a new event – Duet Thematic – with specific rules allowing the athletes to use or wear additional accessories. This idea added a spectacular dimension to the event, as for the first time in a FINA competition it was possible to see synchronised swimmers with both legs covered or swimmers wearing shoes in the water!

The final ranking (and prize money) of the 3rd FINA Synchronised Swimming World Trophy 2008, a competition attended by FINA Honorary Treasurer Dr. Julio Maglione, was as follows:

1st place – Spain 396.666 (US$ 50,000)
2nd place – China 390.666 (US$ 30,000)
3rd place – Russia 386.001 (US$ 20,000)
4th place – Japan 381.667 (US$ 15,000)
5th place – Canada 380.668 (US$ 12,500)
6th place – Italy 377.999 (US$ 10,000)
7th place – Great Britain 355.333 (US$ 9,000)
8th place – Egypt 329.667 (US$ 8,000)