China secured a historic clean sweep in artistic swimming at the World Aquatics Championships, claiming gold in all three team events. The squad’s final victory came on Friday with a commanding performance in the team acrobatic event, scoring 229.0186 points with their dramatic routine, "Soul of the Terracotta Army."
Unprecedented Achievement
This marks China’s fourth gold in the discipline at this year’s championships, solidifying their dominance. Neutral Athletes B (NAB) and Spain trailed behind in second and third places, respectively. The win follows earlier team triumphs in technical and free routines, underscoring China’s growing prowess in the sport.
Coach Zhang Reflects on Growth
"Winning three golds doesn’t mean we’re invincible," said China coach Zhang Xiaohuan. "We’re still exploring and learning from competitors. This journey has been filled with challenges." Zhang highlighted the significance of China’s first-ever women’s solo gold earlier in the competition, calling it a "historic breakthrough" for the team.
Spain Celebrates Mixed Duet Victory
In the mixed duet free final, Spain’s Iris Tio Casas and Dennis Gonzalez Boneu narrowly edged out neutral athletes Aleksandr Maltsev and Olesia Platonova by 0.4125 points. "This is our best World Championships," said Tio Casas, expressing hope that their success would inspire young athletes in Spain.
