China claimed two golds in the synchro highlight routine and thematic duet on the first day of 2012 FINA Syncronized Swimming World Trophy in the Mexico Olympic Sports Center on Friday.
China's twin sisters Jiang Wenwen and Jiang Tingting, in traditional mexican dress, performed the real mexican essence with impressive movements, telling a story about two girls. They gained warm applause from the audience, and the highest score of 95.125 points from 12 judges to win the thematic duets.
China coach Wang Na said these girls needed to overcome jetlag and fatigue as they just finished the Asian Swimming Championships in Dubai days ago, and took 32 hours to arrive in Mexico.
"For those high level swimmers, they can adapt very quickly, and reach the best status of competition. We didn't have long time to prepare this trophy, today I'm satisfied with my swimmers. In the next two days, as long as the swimmers can show their training level, we should be able to obtain good results," Wang said.
Ukraine won the silver with 93.888 points, Canada with 94.463 in the third. Host Mexico finished fourth with 93.350 points.
In the highlight routine, China beat Japan to lift the title and Ukraine finished third.
It is the first time that Mexico hosted such an important synchro swimming event, which will offer the country a learning opportunity as they will stage the FINA World Championships 2017 in Guadalajara.
FINA Syncronized Swimming World Trophy promises the best synchronized swimming solos, duets, teams and combination in the world. The objectives are to promote the beauty of synchronized swimming, improve new development and encourage the creativity. The scores are given for artistic impression only.
According to FINA's regulation, thematic duet should use music and choreography that could reflect the mexican culture. All the teams performed with different mexican elements, including mexican traditional dance, music, dress, hat and so on.
In the next two days, swimmers from 10 coutries and regions will compete in solos, thematic team routine and free combination, the Trophy will conclude on December 2.
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