The Spaniard wowed spectators in the iconic Piscine Georges Vallerey venue, which hosted aquatic contests at the 1924 Olympic Games and was a training base during Paris 2024.

Her ‘I’ll stay with you’ themed routine was given a degree of difficult (DD) score of 29.1500, which was lower than those athletes who placed between second and fifth, but Casas’ greater execution, together with artistic impression scores, saw her take gold.

Image Source: Anh Viet Chau/World Aquatics

Casas achieved an overall total of 240.0167, with Xu Huiyan of China (239.1651) second and Neutral Athlete (NAA) Vasilina Khandoshka (235.7242) third.

“I felt a little bit nervous as it was the first competition, but in the water I did my best and I’m really happy,” Casas told World Aquatics after the contest.

Image Source: Iris Tio Casas reacts after winning the women's solo technical in Paris, France (Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

The 22-year-old, who was part of Spain’s Olympic bronze medal-winning team at Paris 2024, attained World Cup and World Series successes in solo events earlier in her career.

However, as they are not Olympic disciplines, she has not competed in them since early 2023, but plans to make them a major part of her programme this season.

“It’s very important because I enjoy it a lot and I think it’s a different event that you can feel more the music and do your own movements, so I really enjoy it,” she says.

“I will work hard to keep improving in the next competitions.”

Image Source: Xu Huiyan of China competes in the women's solo technical during the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup 2025 event at the Piscine Georges Vallerey in Paris, France. (Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

Xu claimed three World junior titles, including gold in the women’s Solo Tech discipline, in 2024 and was pleased with her performance at the start of her second full season as a senior athlete.

“Today, my performance for myself is the best one in two-three months,” said Zu, who performed to a ‘Lovesickness’ themed routine, with a DD of 33.6000.

“The new rules give us some new ideas for our choreography and it’s a short time to learn the new rules, so we’re all learning to find a good way to suit our styles."

The 19-year-old continued, “For every athlete, their dream is the top medal position, so I want to promote much more my elements and hybrids at a high level and execution.”

 

Later on the opening day of the Artistic Swimming World Cup in Paris, fans will see the Women’s Duet Technical contest before the Men’s Solo Tech finalists take to the water.

The action will then conclude with the Team Free finals.