Team Free Final

The Chinese team has been performing their routine “Chasing Dreams” for the past three years. The choreography, swum to the song “Heroines” composed by Zhang Yongchun, included several risky acrobatic combinations displaying the strength, flexibility and speed the Chinese are known for. China, second at the FINA World Championships in 2015, 2017 and 2019, scored 96.7000 points to win the gold medal.  

Yu Feng has this to say about China's gold-medal-winning performance: “This was the very last routine for team China. We did a very good job I think. Ukraine and Japan also did a spectacular and great routine, raising the level of the competition very high. I really enjoy these outdoor events and have some good experiences and also love to be here and love this journey to Budapest.”

“Team of Brave” is the theme of Ukraine’s choreography and they performed to a compilation of no less than twelve different songs. Embodying the theme, their swim was a testament to their bravery as a team, as individuals, and for all that, their country has endured continuing training and preparation in these difficult and challenging situations.  The Ukrainians received well deserved 95.0000 points and the silver medal, their fifth silver in this edition of the World Championships.  With the gold medal won in the Team Free Combination event earlier this week, Ukraine now tied their best finish at a World Championship for a total amount of medals won. In the 2019 edition in Gwangju, Ukraine won one gold and five bronze medals.

Vladyslava Aleksiiva noted: “We feel excited now. We tried to do our best in this routine, and we did it, and we were satisfied with the result. Tomorrow is the next competition so I don’t have much time to rest, but after all, I am glad for the organization and I am happy to be part of it.”

Swimming to pieces of the songs “A Beautiful Song” by Keigo Hoashi, “Splinter Wolf” by Kohta Yamamoto, and “Hold it Steady” by Epic Score, the team representing Japan presented this brand-new routine themed “The Chess, Checkmate” for the first time this week in Budapest. Throughout the creative choreography chess pieces, a chess match in progress, and chess players are smartly projected with the final hybrid symbolizing the “Checkmate” stroke.  With a score of 93.1333 Japan closed out the podium for the bronze medal.

Megumu Yoshida said: “I am so happy that we got the medal in this competition. I really appreciate our staff who support us, my family and my team members.”

Mixed Duet Free Preliminary

Thirteen Mixed Duet pairs competed for a chance at the medals that are up for grabs in tomorrow’s final round. Italian gold medalists Giorgio Minisini and Lucrezia Ruggiero are leading the way and are joined by a few of accomplished veterans like bronze medalists China’s Haoyu Shi and Yiyao Zhang,  Spain’s Pau Ribes and Emma Garcia and Colombians Jennifer Cerquera Hatsiusca  and Gustavo Sanchez.

Most of the finalists, however, are first-time participants at a FINA World Championships.  Japan’s Tomoka Sato and Yotaro Sato,  winners of the silver medal in the Mixed Duet Technical event, and USA’s Claudia Coletti and Kenneth Gaudet have made impressive debuts in Budapest and have what it takes to challenge the veterans for a spot on the podium.  

The program for the final day of Artistic Swimming in Budapest, Saturday June 25th includes the final rounds for the Mixed Duet Free and the Highlight events. Full results of the Championships can be found here as well as information for the live broadcasts.