European champion Ranjuo Tomblin (GBR) underlined his status as a rising star of the sport with victory in the Men’s Solo Technical final and in doing so became the first man from his nation to top the podium in a World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup in Paris, France.
The 19-year-old was hoisted into the air by his team-mates after returning from the podium with his gold medal, which was also his first-ever top-three result at a global event.
World champion Eduard Kim (KAZ) finished second behind Tomblin, at the iconic Piscine Georges Vallerey venue in Paris.
Jordi Caceres Inglesias (ESP) was third, continuing an impressive day for the Spanish contingent, which began with victory for Olympic bronze medallist Iris Tio Casas in the competition’s opening contest.
Texel Ferre Gaset and Lilou Lluis Valette then combined to win the Women’s Duet Technical crown after an outstanding performance.
The final event of the opening day in Paris saw Kazakhstan claim the Team Free title, with a score of 167.6538, ahead of Czechia, who achieved a total of 129.150.
MEN SOLO TECHNICAL
A nine-strong line-up showed the growing strength and interest in the men’s side of the sport and those lucky enough to have tickets to Friday’s action were treated to a series of spectacular performances.
So high were the standards, that World and European champion Dennis Gonzalez Boneu (ESP) placed fifth.
His teammate Caceres Inglesias (ESP) fared better, with an overall score of 213.5992, which combined execution and artistic impression scores, enabling him to take bronze.
Kim (KAZ) was another World gold medallist in the field and his 213.8167 total was enough to take silver.
Tomblin, and his nation Great Britain, have been gradually building their profiles and medal hauls since significant rule changes were introduced in 2023.After historic World championship successes at Fukuoka 2023 and Doha 2024, British duet Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe who won the Olympic test event in 2024, when on to claim a landmark silver in Paris.
That success has further inspired Tomblin, according to the artistic swimmer himself.
The 19-year-old was awarded a difficulty (DD) score of 27.5000 for his routine to ‘the 5th’ by David Garrett, which attained an overall score of 214.3966.
“I totally didn’t expect it, we just came here to test our routines, so I can’t really believe it,” Tomblin told World Aquatics.
“The previous achievements and I would also say the help of Kate and Iz who are really kind of ‘opening the door’ for us and newer generation athletes
“They’ve made us realise that Great Britain is actually quite good at this sport and that has given us a lot of confidence.”
WOMEN DUET TECHNICAL
In the absence of the Olympic medal-winning duets from China, Great Britain, and the Netherlands, as well as Austria’s former World champion siblings Anna-Maria and Eirini-Mariana Alexandri, the Women’s Duet Tech event presented an opportunity for new pairs to show their potential.
Ferre Gaset and Lluis Valette are a new partnership, with Spain’s recently recruited head coach Andrea Fuentes keen to mixed up the team, duet and solo dynamics at the beginning of the new Olympic cycle, heading towards LA2028.
Their ‘former lovers’ themed routine, performed to Elle King’s ‘Ex’s and Oh’s’ was expertly delivered to an excitable crowd at the Piscine Georges Vallerey.
It attained a difficulty (DD) score of 33.0000 from the judges, who also awarded them a combined total of 281.7383 for their execution and artistic impression.
“It means a lot for us,” Ferre Gaset (ESP) told World Aquatics. She then emphasised how the Team Olympic bronze medal was inspiring the entire Spanish setup ahead of future targets.
“I think all the team are very excited and we are doing a great job all together, I think this year we are all united and we will do great things again.”
Japan’s new pairing Moka Fujii and Moe Higa finished second, with their ‘Android’ themed routine attaining an overall score of 265.4225.
“I think we did a very good swim and we are happy with the silver medal, but next time (at the World Championships) we would like the gold,” said Higa.
French Olympic duet Romane Lunel and Anastasia Bayandina ensured that home crowd were able to celebrate host nation success with the pair claiming bronze, with a score of 264.8292.
“For us and our coaches I think this is a great start at home,” said Bayandina.
“The first step is the World Cup and we’re really grateful to be able to swim a similar routine (to the Olympics), but with new rules and some changes and we are happy to win the bronze medal.”
The second day of the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup in Paris will see the Women’s Duet Free, Mixed Duet Technical and Team Technical events take place in Piscine Georges Vallerey, in the French capital.