10 Questions: Spain’s Dennis Gonzalez on Olympic artistic swimming inspiration, joining the team and … the piano

Spain’s Dennis Gonzalez, 21, will be one of the ones to watch when he takes part in the European Aquatics Artistic Swimming Championships Funchal 2025 which will take place from June 2 to 5.

Winner of the first men’s solo free world title, in 2023, he took silver in that event last year behind Italy’s pioneer of the men’s sport, Giorgio Minisini, who has now retired.

Gonzalez returned to the top of the podium three times at the 2024 European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade, where he won gold in the men’s solo technical and mixed duet free and technical routines.

In Funchal he is currently due to compete in the mixed duet and the team event, in which he made history last month by becoming the first male athlete to compete in the Spanish line-up, helping to earn gold at the World Cup in Somabay, Egypt.

“I dreamed a lot for this moment, many times,” he said. “I worked really hard for this as well. I’m so happy because I did everything I needed to be in the Spanish artistic swimming team.”

Apart from your recent achievement in the team event, what has been the proudest moment of your career – so far?

“I have two. In Fukuoka 2023 when I was world champion, something I had been dreaming of for a long time, and another, at the Doha 2024 World Championships, because it is when it was the most difficult for me and I became stronger both physically and mentally because I had a problem and I was able to pull it off and compete.”

What has been the biggest challenge of you career – so far?

“My biggest challenge is this year because I am integrating into the Olympic team, maintaining the duo, improving the solo. I’m trying to achieve quality at group level, to have a level and try to be the best by enduring all the burden of being in a team because it’s very hard. But I will do whatever it takes to achieve it.”

What do you think about during training?

“It’s a complicated question. There are times when I am very focused but other times very tired and I see myself even competing, but most of the time I am focusing on everything. It is a very complicated sport, with many hours, but you have to be focused”.

How much will artistic swimming miss Giorgio Minisini – and how much will you miss him?

“I met him just when he beat Russia for the first time and it was crazy. I also remember in 2023 and thinking: I’m swimming against Giorgio Minisini!’ We managed to beat him in one of the routines, which was amazing because it was very hard to have him competing against us at that level. He has been one of the first male stars of this sport and a great reference for me and for many people.”

What are your hopes for the development of men’s artistic swimming – do you think it can feature in the LA 2028 Olympics?

“Honestly, I think that this year artistic swimming is going to start to evolve much more. I hope that one day there will be more boys on the teams. It’s nice to see and we also bring different things to the table. It would be amazing to see a male duo in the Olympics one day. That moment is going to come. We are on the way.”

Who has been your sporting inspiration – either in your own sport or any other?

“I have always been linked to this sport, especially on my mother’s side, and I have always liked dancing and water a lot. Then I saw Pau Ribes in Spain and I wanted to do the same. He helped me a lot and artistic swimming has ended up being my life.”

What started you in artistic swimming and what is most satisfying about it?

“The passion for dancing and for water. And seeing the mixed duo of Gemma Mengual and Pau Ribes. It was crazy, something incredible. I wanted to do it. Being able to move freely without gravity is being able to do what you want and having mastery of it is super cool.”

If you hadn’t become an artistic swimmer what do you think you would have been?

“It’s complicated, as there are a lot of things that I like. Jumping or gymnastics because it is the closest thing to my sport. Jumps or contemporary dance. Something where I have to move my body, I have no doubt.”

What is your secret passion?

“I love gymnastics because in artistic swimming you mix a lot of things. And another of my most hidden passions since I was a child is playing the piano. Now I dedicate time to myself and I am enjoying it a lot.”

What would you like to have achieved by the end of 2025?

“Being a consistent part of an Olympic team. The idea of being an inspiration for the whole world is something that I love and that fascinates me. I want to demonstrate it and share it. In this sport you experience things that you don’t experience with just anyone. This year is an amazing season. We have new trainers, and everything is different.”

The post 10 Questions: Spain’s Dennis Gonzalez on Olympic artistic swimming inspiration, joining the team and … the piano first appeared on European Aquatics®.