XI’AN, May 2 (Xinhua) — Host team China won gold in the men’s solo free, while Russia triumphed in the women’s duet free and team free on Saturday at the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup stop in Xi’an.
Guo Muye, 17, secured his second gold medal of the Xi’an stop after scoring 263.2338 points in the men’s solo free event. Britain’s Ranjuo Tomblin finished second with 249.8225 points, while Kazakhstan’s Viktor Druzin took bronze with 239.1226.
“Compared with last year’s routine, I made some adjustments to my opening and arm movements. With improved physical condition, I can swim higher and complete my program more comfortably,” Guo told Xinhua.
Guo’s coach, Li Min, said that over the past three months, Guo has been training with female artistic swimmers in preparation for team events.
“During team training sessions, Guo has made great progress in his skills. He needs to match the expressions, movements and height in the water of the other seven teammates. I am satisfied with his performance in Friday’s team technical event and today’s men’s solo free,” Li said.
In the team free event, China, fielding eight young athletes, finished second with 243.9575 points. Russia topped the event with 260.0196, while Italy completed the podium with 235.7576.
Earlier on Saturday, Russian pair Kira Cherezova and Valentina Gerasimova won the women’s duet free title, making the first time the Russia national anthem has been played at the Artistic Swimming World Cup since World Aquatics lifted its ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes in April.
“It is a great honor to represent our country with our flag in competition,” Cherezova said.
In the mixed duet technical event, Britain’s Ranjuo Tomblin and his partner Isabelle Thorpe delivered an impressive routine to the theme of “Latin dance,” scoring 227.1317 points to claim gold. Kazakhstan’s pairs Yasmina Islamova/Aldiyar Ramazanov and Artur Maidanov/Aiganym Saim finished second and third, respectively.
The remaining three events of the World Cup Xi’an stop, namely the women’s solo free, mixed duet free and team acrobatic, will be contested on Sunday. ■