The team of Russia successfully concluded the first leg of the 2018 FINA Artistic Swimming World Series, getting two more medals in the last day of the competition, held this Sunday in Paris (FRA). In the Solo Free final, Svetlana Kolesnichenko, the athlete to beat at the last FINA World Championships and the “FINA Best Female Artistic Swimmer in 2017”, gave no chances to her main challengers and took the gold in 95.5000. She was followed by Ukraine’s Yelyzaveta Yakhno, earning silver in 91.5667. The bronze went to Yukiko Inui, from Japan, in 91.000.
The European powerhouse was again at the top of the hierarchy in the Mixed Duet Free final, with Aleksandr Maltsev (FINA Best Male Artistic Swimmer in 2017) pairing with Mayya Gurbanberdieva for the gold in 91.9333. Giorgio Minisini/Manila Flamini (ITA), winners of the Technical final, were this time silver medallists, with a total of 89.5333. The duet from Japan (Atsushi Abe/Yumi Adachi) completed the podium in 88.0333.
Photo by FFN/P. Pongenty
In the last two finals of the competition, China was the best in the Duet Free final, with Wang Liu Yi and Wang Qian Yi getting the title in 92.5667. Ukraine (Anastasiya Savchuk/Yelyzaveta Yakhno) was second in 91.6000, while Japan (Yukiko Inui/Kanami Nakamaki) finished third in 91.3000.
Finally, in the Highlight Routine event, Ukraine was the best (91.6667), with the minor medals going to France (85.8000) and Israel (78.9000).
The second leg of the 2018 FINA Artistic Swimming World Series will be held in Beijing (CHN), on April 20-22.