FINA World Championship 2013: First gold goes to Russia thanks to Svetlana Romashina

Synchronised Swimming - 2013/07/20 21:00

RENANG INDAH INDONESIA-The Russian swimmer has inaugurated the podium in Palau Sant Jordi by achieving gold in the Solo Technical event with a score of 96.860. Huang Xuechen of China took silver with 95.500 points and Ona Carbonell gets the first bronze medal for Spain with 94.400

Romashina has created more distance from the other girls by improving her score and obtaining 48.300 points in execution and 48.500 in overall impression. Huang was awarded 47.700 in execution and 47.800 points for overall impression. Ona Carbonell achieved her best score of the year with the level score of 47.200 both in execution and overall impression.

Svetlana Romashina had stepped in to substitute her teammate Natalia Ishchenko in the solo event after she announced that she would take a sabbatical year. Romashina maintained an extremely high level, keeping well out of reach of the other girls on the podium. There was more than a point’s difference which makes the level of demand even greater for those who want to get their hands on that gold meal. “I have carried the solo event in my heart since 2004, although I admit that it was not easy to substitute Ishchenko.”

Ona Carbonell has accomplished her first goal for these Championships with this medal as well as making her debut as a medallist in this event. The support from the crowd ensured that the captain of the Spanish team could improve on her performance and therefore on the result obtained in the preleminaries (94.200). This morning she admitted that although she was happy she still needed to improve her performance. She smiled as she confirmed “it´s the best technical score I´ve got this year.”

China´s representative, Huang Xuechen, performed a very classic routine inspired by Swan Lake and she said “I have done my best to win the gold medal, but it is very difficult to reach Russia.” It involved impressive vertical movements and was full of strength. Romashina showed off all her potential with a performance accentuating her height, expressivity and power. Carbonell, to the beat of Black izard brought out her most elegant and sober side. During the execution she didn’t seem to lose any energy making her whole body emerge from the water on three occasions. "It was a tough day. I will participate in 13 events which is physically and mentally tough. I look forward to competing in the solo free and aim to win the silver medal. Special thanks to the crowd, which has motivated me a lot" said Carbonell in the press conference.

Tomorrow Palau Sant Jordi will open their doors again to synchronised swimming for the preliminary tests of Duet Technical (9.00 am - 12.30 pm), Free Combination (2.00 pm – 4.30 pm) and the Duet Technical final (7.00 pm to 8.45 pm).