French teenager Macéo Vanhée-Dedieu demonstrated further evidence of his undoubted talent with a maiden World Youth title and showed that he can handle the scrutiny which will undoubtedly follow him as the son of his nation’s most successful artistic swimmer.
The 14-year-old’s mother, Virginie Dedieu, won Olympic bronze as part of the women’s Duet at Sydney 2000, but also claimed three World and two European crowns among a haul of 17 major medals during her dazzling career.
The pair performed together as part of a demonstration event at the Paris World Cup earlier in the year and at the World Youth Artistic Swimming Championships in Athens, Macéo delivered a Solo Free display which his mother would likely have been proud of herself.
“I dedicate this to my mum because I did this routine with her,” he told World Aquatics after topping the podium with his ‘warriors’ themed performance.
When asked if he looked up to his mother as an athlete, he admitted that of course he did “a little bit,” but emphasises she is “my mum first and I love her for that.”
Vanhée-Dedieu continued; “I chose this music because it’s very strong and I can show how I can be energetic and how I want to win and have a good swim.
“I’m so happy and grateful as the season was so long and full of emotion.”
The USA’s Xavier Wang was second in the men’s Solo Free China’s Chen Xiuping placed fourth in the Solo Free standings, but his score from the Figures round enabled him to leap ahead of Spain’s Eneka Sanchez and place third.
Earlier in the day the first medals were awarded in the Mixed Solo Figures discipline.
Over a period of five hours 319 athletes performed two routines in front of two panels of judges with their score added to the prelims total for all events apart from Combination.
Their two routines selected for this year’s contest were the ‘308H Barracuda Airborne Split Spin Up 180’ and the ‘407 Swordfish Straight Leg Ariana Rotation’.
13-year-old Stanislava Kozlova said she was “happy” to top the standings after a “difficult” competition in which she scored 87.3636 points; to head off the challenge of Sofia Mikhailov (86.6409) and Lesia Goncharova (85.8682).
The day’s other final saw Aleksandra Pishchikova deliver a stunning performance to claim the Women’s Solo Free title.
The 15-year-old had topped the standings on Tuesday, but with USA rival Jaclyn Zhuge bettering Pishchikova’s preliminary round score it left the young athlete needing to improve her own performance too in the final showdown.
And she did exactly that, impressing both fans and judges alike with a display, to her ‘snake’ themed routine, which attained an overall score of 254.4884.
That saw her claim gold, but with the results of the earlier Figures event also factored into the score, that saw Selin Hurmeric take silver ahead of Zhuge.
“I love this competition, I love this place and I’m very happy,” Pishchikova told World Aquatics.
Silver medallist Zhuge of the USA added that she was relieved her “hard work” and sacrifice had paid of with a global honour.
“I’m very happy, it’s my first World Championships and it feels really good,” she said.
“It means a lot especially as for the last six months we’ve trained so hard together in one house together in a training camp so it feels amazing. I dedicate this medal to my coaches and my family for driving and supporting me every step of the way.”
Bronze medallist Hurmeric added; that it was her “dream” to win a World medal.
“I’m so happy I achieved that,” she told World Aquatics. “I feel so honoured and really grateful for the opportunity and this medal is dedicated to my coaches but most importantly my family.”