Mixed Duet Technical Final

The development of the Mixed Duet events and the increase in the number of male artistic swimming athletes evident by the high number of debutantes in Budapest.  This edition of the World Championships is the first one with a final featuring the complete allotted twelve pairs. For four of the eight first time participants, the duets representing Slovakia, Thailand, Mexico and Puerto Rico, it is also the first appearance as a country in this event at a World Championships.

After an exciting competition with a great display of the contrasting feminine beauty and grace paired with the male power and strength, it was Italy’s  Giorgio Minisini with new partner Lucrezia Ruggiero who topped the podium with a score of 89.2685. With today’s gold medal added to the one gold, three silver and two bronze medals won in 2015, 2017 and 2019 World Championships, Minisini is now the most decorated Male Artistic Swimmer.

Giorgio Minisini: “Budapest is in the bottom of my heart – I’m here, and again, we won the gold medal (like in 2017). This is amazing that the Hungarians put together these championships in four months and created such wonderful venues once more. I wanted this title badly, we worked very hard with Lucrezia and I really wanted her to stand with me on the top of the podium. I’m so proud of her and our performance. We always want to innovate, to leave our mark, this how Italian synchro works and lives. I think we did many new things compared to 2017. Now we stay here and root for our free combo team, I hope they finish on the podium as well.”

Lucrezia Ruggeiro: “Three years of hard work paid off today. I’m so proud to swim with Giorgio and to achieve this result.”

The first-ever brother-sister duo participating at a World Championship, Japan’s Tomoka Sato and Yotaro Sato successfully performed their Tarzan routine to bring Japan its first silver medal in this event. The choreography for which the pair received 86.5939 points, creatively incorporated jungle animal movements and showcased their fitness and strength in the lifts and hybrids throughout the routine.

Sato Yotaro: “This is the best performance we could offer now. There were some points we need to improve. We have to step up for the free routine to get the medal there or even be the best.

“That was our best show for years," Yotaro added.  "I also see where we can improve but I’m very happy with this silver.”

In a very close third place, China’s mixed duo Haoyu Shi and Yiyao Zhang,  who choreographed their routine “King Arthur” to the folky classic rock tune by Daniel Pemberton, received 86.4425 points for the bronze medal.

Shi Hayou: “It was a perfect routine, better than our previous performance. Every movement came in the perfect rhythm, we are satisfied with this bronze but our ultimate goal is to be the best. I came here to learn, for me this was only the next step.”

Team Free Combination Final

Ukraine, after winning three World Championship medals in previous editions, bronze in 2013 and again in 2019 and a silver in 2017, Ukraine earned their first-ever FINA World Championship gold medal with a score of 95.0333. The choreography called “A Magic Castle” allowed this team to move through formations, combinations, and difficult hybrids effortlessly and smooth, keeping the audience captivated and feeling the joy and magic.

Maryna Aleksiiva: “It’s our first gold medal in this championship, so we are very excited and so proud of our nationality. We want to show to the world how brave the Ukrainian people are, and we are so happy to be able to be here and do just that.

Japan, performing their routine “The Haunted House” for the first time, scored 93.5667 points to claim the second step on the podium. Swimming to very scary and dark music, the choreography was unique, with difficult patterns and hybrids, but gave the Japanese athletes the opportunity to perform and tell a story. Today’s silver medal is Japan’s sixth World Championships medal in this event, including one gold medal in the 2003 Barcelona edition.

Yoshida Megumu: “I’m happy with this result, I think we gave our best today.”

After just missing out of the medals in 2017 and 2019 World Championships, Italy received 92.0333 points from the three panels of judges, to claim their first podium finish and the bronze medal in this event.  Italy's routine "Super Eroi" told the story of the fascinating and sensual middle East during the times of Suleiman the Magnificent. The dominantly red bathing suits symbolizing the intrigue and opulence of the Harem Topkapi. 

Linda Cerruti: “We are very excited, this is our first medal in this event, and we are really glad to get this. It was very exciting and thrilling when we performed but enjoyed it, and proud of our national team, our coach and the staff. We are really happy to be here and win this medal.”

Solo Free Preliminary

Twenty-eight athletes competed in the preliminary round of the Free Solo for one of the twelve spots for Wednesday's Final round. The top five qualifiers identical to the results of the Solo Technical event here in Budapest. Leading the field with a 94.5667 is Japan's Yukiko Inui, followed by Ukraine's Marta Fiedina, Greece's Evangelia Platanioti, Italy's Linda Cerruti and Austria's Vasiliki Alexandri. 

The program for Tuesday, June 21st includes the preliminary round for the Duet Free event and the Team Technical final event. Full results of the Championships can be found here as well as information for the live broadcasts.