Britain’s Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe claimed victory in the first Olympic discipline to take place in the venue with an impressive victory over Japan and Canada in the women’s duet technical event.

Later that evening it was the turn of Mexico to secure the title in the team tech final, shocking the reigning world champion China, who were second, with Spain third.

Earlier Vasiliki Alexandri of Austria and Colombian Gustavo Sanchez won the respective women’s and men’s solo tech disciplines.

WOMEN SOLO TECHNICAL

Mari Moilala of Finland had the honour of becoming the first athlete to compete in the new venue, opening the programme for the 23-strong women’s solo tech event.

She admitted to a “few nerves” as she entered the “beautiful” arena, but showing little sign of those was regular medal-winner Vasiliki Alexandri of Austria who delivered a powerful performance to secure the first-ever gold medal at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.

The 26-year-old, whose new routine had the apt theme ‘the road to success’, carried a DD (degree of difficulty) score of 36.550. Alexandri achieved a combined total of 253.7933 for elements (160.1933) and artistic impression (93.6000).

“It’s a very special feeling to swim in this amazing pool, but also to perform this brand-new routine line this which I’ve only had for four-five weeks,” she told World Aquatics.

“I am very proud to be on the podium and represent Austria because not everyone can represent their country and now I really hope that my sisters (Anna-Maria and Erini-Marina) will get an Olympic medal here in Paris in August.

“We have always worked as sisters for this our whole lives and I will support them every way I can.”

Making her debut on a senior international podium was 19-year-old German Klara Bleyer, who achieved a total of 234.6200, with Marloes Steenbeek of the Netherlands (230.1917) third.

“I was very excited to swim and show what I can do but I was a little afraid I would make mistakes and there were some nerves, but to swim like that and win a medal at the World Cup is amazing,” Bleyer told World Aquatics.

Steenbeek added; “I’ve done duet for so long and this is a different style of swimming, but I think it’s nice to have success in solo for the Netherlands and I’m happy with my performance.”

MEN SOLO TECHNICAL

Paris is proving to be a ‘lucky’ venue for Colombian Gustavo Sanchez, who followed up his first-ever solo free World Series victory in 2022 with a maiden tech title at the Olympic test event in the same city.

The 23-year-old claimed double World bronze at Doha 2024 and a combined score of 209.8133 saw him become the first male gold medallist at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.

“It was so good for me and I’m so happy because I’ve been training really hard for this,” he told World Aquatics.

“It’s a new routine, with new rules and it’s significant for me and for my country to see people standing for my national anthem here.”

USA’s Kenneth Gaudet, a World silver and bronze solo medallists at Fukuoka 2023, added another silver to his impressive honours list with a combined score of 197.4216, with 17-year-old Italian World Youth champion Filippo Pelati (193.6651) rounding off the podium places.

“I’m super proud because not everyone in the World can say they’ve swum in the Olympic pool and I’m so happy to be getting this chance,” he told World Aquatics.

Pelati added; “I’m the youngest in the competition and I’m so happy to be competing with a lot of top athletes, so I’m proud of myself.

“I was though perhaps concentrating too much today and I didn’t express all of my artistic side so that is my goal for the next competition (men solo free event on Sunday).

WOMEN TECHNICAL DUET

A high-class event saw a host of Olympic medal contenders take to the water to bid for not only World Cup honours, but to also impress judges ahead of this summer’s Games.

Japanese duet Higa Moe and Mashiro Yasunaha, were the first to take to the water, but a technical problem saw them end their routine early before returning to restart later in the session.

The 2023 World champions demonstrated not only their skills in the water but also mental resilience out of it to deliver a performance which achieved an impressive combined total of 258.1783.

They held the lead until the very last routine was complete, with Britain’s 2024 breakout duet Shortman and Thorpe powering their way to victory.

After securing their nation’s first-ever artistic swimming World championship medals in Olympic disciplines at Doha 2024, they have now become the first winners of an Olympic discipline in the Paris 2024 pool.

“It was a really cool moment,” said Shortman after the British duet were awarded a combined points total of 260.0517 for their display to ‘Clock Crafter’.

“We’re gold medallists in the Olympic pool in the first time we’ve swum in it and it’s just good to get that experience under the belt and give us confidence for the final Olympic push.”

“It was really nice as we had a lot of people in the crowd for us cheering and hopefully that will replicated what it will be like in France come the Olympics with a great energy.”

Rounding off the podium were Canadians Jacqueline Simoneau and Audrey Lamothe, whose ‘James Bond’ inspired routine, to the Mission Impossible soundtrack, attained an overall score of 254.6116.

“We’re very happy about what we did as we were showing a new routine in the venue, which we also love so it was great to experience this before the Olympics,” Lamothe told World Aquatics.

Four-time Pan American Games champion teammate Simoneau added; “Coming home with a bronze medal in this pool, knowing it’s where the Olympics will be this summer is a huge inspiration to us and we’re just getting started from here.” 

TEAM TECHNICAL DUET

The appearance of the French senior and junior teams early in the evening session helped created an exciting atmosphere for the competitors of all nations in what turned out to be a fascinating team technical final.

Mexico was the fifth line-up to dive into the Paris Olympic Aquatics Centre pool and delivered a typically energetic performance to Queen’s iconic ‘Don’t stop me now’ track.

They knew that a strong combined score of 273.5379 was likely to be enough for a medal and after fellow podium contenders Spain (253.6042) suffered a base mark penalty they were vying with China for gold.

A strong, but slightly flawed performance from the Chinese team saw their line-up achieve 269.5396; cue wild celebrations from the Mexican team.

“This competition was very important to use as we have introduced a new routine with a lot more difficulty that we had at the Pan-American Games (last year), so to finish like this is something we appreciate a lot,” said Nuria Diosdado Garcia.

“We know this is not the Olympics yet, and the other teams will be perfect there, but these are the moments that make all those hard hours in the pool and the gym worth it.”

Spain, who performed to ‘The Dance at the Gym’, will not contest the other two team finals at this World Cup, meaning “this was it”, according to four-time world medallist Paula Ramírez.

“We enjoyed swimming here, being in the Olympic pool, and the vibe was incredible,” she told World Aquatics.

“We have lots of things to improve, but we’re happy with the performance and to have the bronze medal.”

TO COME ON SATURDAY

Three more gold medals will be awarded on the second day of the World Aquatics artistic swimming World Cup in Paris.

The action will commence with the women’s duet free, followed by the mixed duet tech, before the teams return for their free final during the evening session.