Spain, in front of the overall ranking on Day 2, was third in the Free Combination but still got the second placing (295.000) of the World Trophy. The team of the USA was third with a total of 291.334.

Following the win of Spain on the team event, there was some expectation concerning the last day of the competition, namely on how the Russian would recover and still show they are the best of the world in this aquatic discipline. After gathering her ‘troops’ on Saturday (the day they lost for Spain), Tatiana Pokroviskaya (the head coach of the Russian squad) installed on them a new dose of concentration and motivation. And it perfectly worked out on the Free Combination event. Displaying a solid routine, technically perfect and artistically (what was judged in Rio) very interesting, Russia got two ‘10’ from the judges and assured the victory.

“We had to concentrate after what happened on the second day. We managed to do it, and we appeared very strong for the free combination,” confessed Anastasia Davydova after the medal ceremony. “Nevertheless, we think that the judging format of this World Trophy should follow the model of the Olympic Games and World Championships, with technical and artistic notes. That is why synchronised swimming is called like that: to combine technique and artistic,” also stated Davydova, Olympic, World and European champion. The Russian star obviously knows that, technically, Russia is untouchable, whereas artistically other teams can beat them (as it was the case for Spain).

Except the gold medal, the USA brought an improved version of the programme they had presented at the 2007 FINA World Championships in Melbourne (AUS) and impressed by their very successful choreography and sense of elegance. The judges recognised this work and noted the Americans with three ‘9.9’. The silver medal was assured and even if they didn’t revalidate the victory obtained in this event in the 2006 World Trophy, the Americans had surely reasons to be happy.


USA team

Spain was the next on the list, presenting a very pleasant routine, but not as impressive as with the team, which they won on Day 2. Despite the bronze medal, stayed the consolation of getting a perfect ‘10’ from one of the judges. Moreover, the Spaniards clearly proved that they are the most serious challengers of Russia at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (CHN).

Italy was fourth, while Brazil showed a clear progression getting, with Japan, the fifth spot of the Free Combination event. Mexico and Egypt got the seventh and eighth place respectively.

The last day of the FINA Synchronised Swimming World Trophy in Rio attracted more than 3,000 spectators at the Maria Lenk aquatic complex.

The final and overall ranking of the 2nd FINA Synchronised Swimming World Trophy is as follows:
1. RUS             296.333
2. ESP             295.000
3. USA            291.334
4. JPN             282.666
5. ITA             281.000
6. BRA            275.000
7. MEX           264.000
8. EGY            251.667