After finishing second behind Evangelia Platanioti in the Women Solo Technical, Jacqueline Simoneau got the better of her Greek rival to clinch the Women Solo Free title at the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024.

The four-time Pan American Games gold-medallist delivered a dazzling display to take the title on a day when China increased their tally to four golds with victory in the Mixed Team Technical.

Another Gold for China

There was no stopping the Chinese team as they backed up their triumph in the Mixed Acrobatic Routine with another team title.

China, the champions in the Mixed Team Technical at Budapest 2022, finished down in seventh position at Fukuoka 2023 but they were back on top of the podium in Doha.

Performing their routine “Speed and Passion” to a degree of difficulty of 45.000, China were exemplary in all aspects of their performance showcasing amazing technical skills throughout.

They registered 193.9712 for elements and 105.9000 for artistic impression for a total score of 299.8712 to take the title.

It is China’s fourth artistic swimming gold at Doha 2024, with twins Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi completing their hat-tricks after winning yesterday’s Women Duet Technical.

“We feel so grateful to gain this gold medal,” said China’s Feng Yu.

“Our program was difficult but I am glad we managed it. I am very proud of the girls. It is hard to describe how exciting it is – last year, we lost this event. So today, it is very special and I feel very excited for this.”

While China captured the title by an impressive 25-point margin, there was very little separating the other two podium places.

Spain overcame Japan to take second spot with 275.8925, including 100.2500 for artistic impression and 175.6425 for elements to a difficulty of 45.000.

The defending champions performed brilliant choreography to Leonard Bernstein’s “Dance at the Gym” that saw them climb to the top of the standings only to be usurped by China.

“Our goal is quite clear and all our team members are thinking and working as one,” said Spain’s Iris Tio Casas, “Team Spain is identified by the artistic expression and creativity which make us different, I think.”

Japan, who secured silver at Budapest 2022, were back amongst the medals, securing bronze after scoring 174.9287 for elements and 100.9500 for artistic impression to accumulate a total of 275.8787.

After finishing seventh in the Mixed Acrobatic Routine, Japan bounced back with a fantastic showing to the theme “Thunder”.

“We are happy to win the bronze medal,” said Japan’s Megumu Yoshida.

“We came into the event today with the mindset of giving it our best and performing at the optimum level. We know that medals might come our way if we put in our best, and we are happy that things turned out fine.”

The United States of America backed up their performance in the Mixed Acrobatic where they sealed bronze to clinch fourth spot with 266.9333 after a memorable interpretation of Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal.

Italy placed fifth with 260.8183, while Canada ranked sixth with 253.3550.

Sublime Simoneau captures Women Solo Free title

Simoneau placed third behind Austria’s Vasiliki Alexandri and Platanioti in the Women Solo Free preliminaries before producing her best performance when it mattered most.

Performing to the theme “Cruella De Vil”, Simoneau got off to an excellent start, nailing her most difficult hybrid in the opening element and continued to gain in confidence, showing great flexibility and strength in her sublime routine.

Simoneau was rewarded with a score of 264.8207, including 180.9707 for elements and 83.8500 for artistic impression to a difficulty of 49.150.

She then watched on as Platanioti fell short of her score before Alexandri came unstuck in the final showing of the night.

“I had always dreamt of becoming the world champion,” said Simoneau, “I don’t think I can ask for anything more. It has been a team effort and this gold medal goes to all of us. It’s not easy to reach the top. It tests you and the difficulty increases every other tournament.”

Platanioti made history on Saturday when she became the first Greek athlete to win artistic swimming gold at the World Championships courtesy of her triumph in the Women Solo Technical.

Her hopes of completing a solo double were dashed by Simoneau but she ensured another place on the podium with silver.

Platanioti scored 253.2833 to a difficulty of 44.750 after showing brilliant musicality to her Greek Dance theme.

“I gave everything I had and seeing the happiness on my coaches’ faces, it feels as if I had won another gold medal tonight,” said Platanioti.

“Honestly, I couldn’t have won gold on this because the difference between me and Jacqueline Simoneau on difficulty was too big. She raised her difficulty level a lot for the final - I wasn’t expecting that.”

Alexandri was in pole position after the preliminaries but received two basemarks in the final that saw her drop to sixth position.

It meant the bronze medal went to Vasilina Khandoshka, a Neutral Independent Athlete whose decision to go for the highest degree of difficulty at 49.600 paid off.

Khandoshka registered 174.1542 for elements and 70.9500 for artistic impression for a total 245.1042 after producing a series of brilliant backwards and forwards rotations as well as excellent artistry to the theme “After Dark”.