Duet Free Final

Two-time Olympian Simoneau, who will compete in her third and final Games this summer, and Olympic debutant Lamothe gave a glimpse of what they will perform at Paris 2024 and wowed the judges in the process.

The pair, who were eighth in the Tech final on Friday, showed no ‘hangover’ impact from that showing and delivered their ‘Middle Eastern’ themed choreographed routine with clear energy and joy.

It carried an astounded degree of difficult (DD) score of 56.95 and their execution, as well as artistry, was rewarded with a gold medal-winning total of 272.6457, which saw Lamothe claim the first major title of her career.

“We are over the moon!” Simoneau told World Aquatics.

We took a huge risk, this is the highest DD, we can say this is the world record in difficulty, it was incredibly difficult what we did in the water.

“At the end of the routine we saw black sport, we felt dizzy in the water because we were under water for so long, but it paid off!”

With day one Tech final champions Ukraine opting against contesting the Free final Mexico, who finished just 0.5 points off the podium places, were among those looking to reassert their medal winning credentials on day two.

However, Nuria Diosdado Garcia and Joana Jimenez Garcia produced a far from clean routine and that effectively meant it would be a three-way contest between Canada, China and Israel for the honours.

Chinese twins Lin Yanhan and Lin Yanjun, the silver medallists in the Tech Final, were typically clinical and their ‘wind’ themed performance attained a combined score of 239.1897.

Israeli duo Shelly Bobritsky and Ariel Nassee have impressed in recent weeks, claiming two European bronze medals and finishing third in Tech Final. Buoyed by their form, the Paris 2024-bound duet delivered another mesmerising show for the excitable crowd at the Duna Arena, achieving a score of 243.9042, to take silver.

“This was Audrey's first Canadian anthem on the podium and this is my last World Cup because I will be retiring after this season,” said Simoneau.

“It’s such a great way to end my career.”

Team Acrobatic – USA Continues Winning Streak

A six-strong final were cheered on by a loud crowd on Saturday evening in Budapest, generating an exciting atmosphere for what is traditionally one of the most entertaining events in the artistic swimming programme. 

Simoneau and Lamothe were back following their duet success seeking further team honours with Canada, who finished third in the Tech event on the opening day.

Again, they impressed fans and judges alike with their routine attaining a combined score of 194.4867.

The USA were the ‘ones-to-watch’ though given what many viewed as a ‘break through’ success in the Team final and boosted by that performance they again topped the standings.

They attained an overall score of 229.0367 for their choreographed display to ‘The Sorceresses’, which saw them soar past Canada, who would take silver.

Kazakhstan’s total of 192.5067 was enough for them to edge bronze ahead of Olympic qualifiers Australia, who will be encouraged by their own performance.

USA though will take the greatest believe from their displays over the first two days in Hungary though having now seemingly settled on a line-up which will likely put them in medal contention at Paris 2024.

“We were super excited about this routine because it's brand new, it's the first time we've done it,” Anita Alvarez told World Aquatics.

“There are still a few things we need to work on before the Olympics, as we (only) choreographed it a few weeks ago, so it was not bad for the first try and we love swimming it.”

Mixed Duet Free – Garcia Secures Golden Goodbye

Seven-strong final featuring all but one of those who contested the Mixed Duet Tech final 24 hours earlier – with Croatia the nation dropping out.

As with the final on day one Spain, Kazakhstan, Italy and Colombia were expected to be among the main medal contenders and it was the South American’s who first demonstrated their podium potential. 

Gustavo Sanchez, a three-time World medallist, finished second alongside previous partner Jennifer Cerquera Hatiusca at the World Cup in Paris.

However, he is now part of a new line-up with 17-year-old Emil Minante Avendaa and although they were fifth in the Tech final the Colombians showed significant improvements in their second major final together.

A combined score of 210.6542 for their ‘From Cali to the world’ themed routine put them in medal contention.

Italian’s Filippo Pelati and Flaminia Vernice, who claimed the European Junior title in Malta late last month, continued their impressive form in their debut season as a pair.

Their routine, choreographed to tell the love story of Orpheus and Eurydice, was delivered with precision and power; attaining a combined score of 202.2313 and secured them a medal.

Dennis Gonzalez, who won Duet Tech gold alongside Mireia Hernandez, was this time partnered by Emma Garcia and they were the last double-act to hit the water in this final.

The Gonzalez-Garcia combo, who won gold at the last stop of the 2024 World Cup circuit in Markham, Canada, produced what was described in commentary as an “incredible” swim.

Their ‘hip hop’ theme routine, which combines elements from three different tracks released between 2007 and 2023, secured an impressive 213.2250 points.

That score ensured Spain took gold ahead of Colombia, with Italy claiming bronze. 

"We were so emotional during the whole routine because this was Emma's last routine with me, she is retiring,” Gonzalez revealed to World Aquatics.

Garcia, a two-time European champion, continued; "There are so many emotions right now, I almost cried and it was hard to hold back my emotions after so many years together.

“It was the best way to say goodbye!”

The final day of competition at the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming Super Final will see fans witness the conclusion of the solo competitions and the team events, with athletes taking on the respective Free finals in Budapest.