While the Russians got four ‘9.9’ and one ‘9.8’, Spain totalled three ‘10’ (the first highest marks of the competition), one ‘9.9’ and one ‘9.7’. A brilliant victory ensued with 99.667 (the Russians finished with 99.000), opening the best possible prospects for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (CHN). Used to dominating the international scene since 1998, Russia took the first warning concerning a possible turning point in the synchronised swimming hierarchy.
“It was the first time that our immense investment over the last years paid off with a gold medal. It was also the first time that judges had the courage to reverse the tendency!” considered Tarrés, the omnipresent coach behind Spain’s success. “We know that technically it is almost impossible to beat the Russians, but on an artistic level (which was judged here) we are very close. Even the spectators understood that our routine deserved to win”, stated Anna Tarrés. In fact, the Spanish programme was (with the exception of the Brazilian team) the most applauded by the numerous spectators at the Maria Lenk aquatic complex. “My swimmers were very concentrated, they had a very nice interpretation of the musical theme and they respected the choreography quite well,” also explained the Spanish coach.
Russian Team
Spain has never won an Olympic medal in synchro. In Athens 2004, in duet and team (the Olympic events), they were fourth, which left a bitter sensation in the Spaniard group. But in 2005 (FINA World Championships in Montreal), 2006 (FINA World Cup in Yokohama) and 2007 (FINA World Championships in Melbourne), Spain definitively ascended to the second spot of the synchro world hierarchy, behind the apparently untouchable Russia. Until this World Trophy… less than one year before the 2008 Games in Beijing. “We now feel an additional responsibility. Here in Rio, this triumph gave us some ‘vitamins’, but we know that at the Olympics it won’t be easy. And we must not forget that a new player is improving very fast: China,” considered Tarrés.
Besides the fight for the gold and silver medal, which was undoubtedly the ‘story’ of this World Trophy, the USA got the bronze despite major faults in two lifts. With a total of 96.000, the Americans almost lost the medal to Japan, which finished fourth with 95.333 – the same order as in the duet event of the first day of competition. Italy also repeated its fifth position, followed by Brazil (which left a very good impression), Mexico and Egypt.