Spain and Canada were also on the more original side of the Thematic Duet, with the Iberians (Andrea Fuentes and Gemma Mengual) covering one leg and the North Americans (Tracy Little and Elise Marcotte) covering both of them. For the first time in the history of a FINA synchronised swimming competition, swimmers performed with covered legs or shoes on their feet: an image that may shock the purists of the discipline, but that undoubtedly opens a wide range of new opportunities in the discipline. For the television crews and the photographers present in Madrid, it was certainly a pleasure to capture these moments; for the spectators and TV viewers, it surely constitutes a very positive and encouraging dimension in synchronised swimming.

But because this discipline is not only show but also a sport, the day finished with the predictable control of Mengual and Fuentes in the water. Silver medallists at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Spaniards took maximum advantage of the absence of the leading duet these last years: Russians Anastasia Ermakova and Anastasia Davydova (Olympic and World champions) who will most probably take a break in 2009, after Ermakova’s decision to take a pause after so many years of excellence.


Thematic Duet: Andrea Fuentes and Gemma Mengual (ESP)

In Madrid, Mengual and Fuentes won both the Free Duet and Thematic Duet, getting the same points in both events: 99.000. While in the free presentation they got one perfect 10 (out of five judges), their thematic duet was awarded two 10s. Behind the Spaniards, the twin sisters Wenwen Jiang and Tingting Jiang, from China confirmed the excellent shape they displayed in 2007 and 2008, ranking second in both duet events. The Chinese had been fourth at the Olympics in Beijing, and were clearly better than their main challengers in the Spanish capital.

In this group, we can naturally find Russia and Japan. Without their stars, the Europeans tried two different solutions in these duet sessions, both with one common characteristic: the youth of the swimmers involved. In the Free presentation, Anzhelika Timanina and Daria Korobova (both born in 1989) were third with 96.667, while in the thematic routine Aleksandra Patskevich (aged 20) and Svetlana Ponkratova (18) ranked fourth (95.000). In this event, Japan’s Saya Kimura and Maya Kimura were third (96.000), better than their teammates Mariko Sakai and Yukiko Inui, who were fifth in the free routine. Also for Japan, their best possible pair – Emiko Suzuki/Saho Harada – were not in Madrid.


Thematic Duet: Olivia Allison and Jenna Randall (GBR)

At the end of the day, Spain and China are the clear leaders of this Trophy (in which all the notes in the two duet events, plus the team and free combination marks, are added to a general ranking), with a group of three countries fighting for the third position: Russia has the advantage for now (191.667), but is closely followed by Japan (190.667) and Canada (190.334). The Canadians had a positive day in Madrid, with a fourth place in the free routine and a fifth position in the thematic presentation. Canada’s most experienced swimmer (Marie-Pier Boudreau Gagnon) paired with young revelation Chloe Isaac (aged 17) in duet free, while Tracy Little and Elise Marcotte displayed the thematic duet.

Italy (187.667), Great Britain (177.333) and Egypt (163.667) close the ranking after Day 1, with the British delegation accomplishing a vital mission in Madrid: build-up a team that can represent the country in the best possible conditions at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.