Nearly 100 elite artistic swimmers from 14 countries and regions are set to compete in the first leg of the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup 2024 season.
And the setting couldn't be more spectacular as the Chinese National Aquatic Center - aka the Water Cube from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games fame - is set to host the event in Beijing from 5-7 April 2024.
It is the second edition of the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup after the new scoring system made its debut last year and the first time in five years since Beijing last held an Artistic Swimming World Cup event, in 2019.
Among the 11 medal events at stake, host team China will compete in all the events but the top-level swimmers in the national team will only focus on the Team Free while the second-tier national team members compete across the rest of the 10 events.
"There were some new changes to the rules recently. We need time to understand and rebuild our original routines. On the other hand, it is a great opportunity for our young swimmers to show off and to learn from other elite swimmers at the World Cup," said Zhang Xiaohuan, head coach of the Chinese national team.
Team China achieved its best-ever performance in artistic swimming, winning seven golds, one silver, and one bronze across 11 events at the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024 in February.
"We are so delighted that the Artistic Swimming World Cup comes back to Beijing and we are so eager to express our passion and love of the sport to our Chinese fans. Our goal is clear that we try to perform precision, cleanliness in movements, and artistic expression in our routines." Zhang said.
Xu Huiyan, 19, who grabbed her first medal in Women's Solo Technical in Doha, will compete in at least four events, including two Sole routines as well as in the Duet and Team events in her home waters.
"I was lucky to stand on the medal podium in Doha. This time, I hope I can earn more confidence from the World Cup," Xu said.
Australia, which already booked a Team spot in artistic swimming for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, will perform in all three team events and challenge the host team.
“ I’ve never been to Beijing before. It’s been really different here and I’m really excited to explore the city a little bit. The pool is amazing, we love the temperature and the water is really good. It’s really cool to see the Olympic stadium,” Carolyn Rayna Buckle said.
Nargiza Bolatova and Eduard Kim, who won the first-ever world title for Kazakhstan with an artistic swimming gold in the Mixed Duet Technical in Doha, will defend their seminal in the Chinese capital city.
The British women's pair, Eve Isobella Young and Florence Lily Blinkhorn, echoed the sentiments and great first impression of the Water Cube as soon as they saw a big dragon status flying around the pool deck.
"It’s the year of the Dragon. It looks like a very fashionable atmosphere; that's a really amazing place. The city is cool. It seems like a really nice place where the Summer and Winter Olympics were held, and it really welcoming," the 17-year-old Young said.
The Water Cube has turned into the Ice Cube during the winter season since 2021 and was the curling competition venue during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
The World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup 2024 series has four legs, including Beijing, Paris (FRA) – 3-5 May, Markham (CAN) – 31 May - 2 June and Super Final in Budapest (HUN) – 5-7 July.
Beijing has previously hosted 35 World Aquatics events, including two editions each of the Artistic Swimming World Cup (2018, 2019) and the Synchro World Trophy (2011, 2014), along with the 2008 Olympic Games.