Two golds for Gonzalez in Spain’s medal success at Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final in China
Dennis Gonzalez came away from the Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final in Xi’an, China with gold medals from both his mixed duet routines, in company with Mireia Hernandez in Saturday’s technical final and his new partner in the free event, Iris Tio Casas, on the final day.
He was also part of the Spanish teams that won silver in the technical and acrobatic events and bronze in the free at an event where the hosts claimed all three team golds in what was a dress rehearsal for the World Aquatics Championships that start in Singapore on July 11.
Gonzalez, who has made history this season by becoming the first man to feature in Spain’s team, believes male athletes can bring different benefits to eight-strong line-ups.
“I think I will want to stay inside the team and I will work for that and this year is the year I work for that,” Gonzalez told World Aquatics.
“I think I’m inside the eight people who can stay inside the team event and I’m so happy for that. I think our choreography with one man is much better because you can do different things than the other routines.”
Gonzalez and Tio Casas had won at the previous two World Cups with their ‘Heartbreak’ themed routine, and a score of 290.2184 points ensured a third win.
“This year is my first-year swimming with Iris, I love swimming with her and we improved together a lot this year with the artistic impression, and the execution,” Gonzalez told World Aquatics. “I think we have a lot of feeling that makes us better.”
Tio Casas added: “We are very happy because we are improving in every competition a little bit more. We have good chemistry and we work really good together.”
China earned mixed duet free silver, and bronze went to another new combination of Britain’s 19-year-old Ranjuo Tomblin and Paris 2024 duet bronze medallist Isabelle Thorpe, who totalled 262.6855The British pairing had already won a first bronze in the mixed duet technical.
“I’m very happy with my performance,” said Tomblin, who also earned bronze in the men’s solo technical event where he recently became European champion.
“Obviously, there were a few mistakes in some routines, so it’s all about working hard to improve the routines and the impression and hopefully next time in Singapore the medal colour will be different.”
Spain were frequent visitors to the podium as teenage duo Txell Ferrer Gaset and Lilou Lluis Valette earned bronze in the women’s duet technical and added silver in the women’s duet free.
Neutral athlete Vasilina Khandoshka also enjoyed a successful weekend as she earned gold in the women’s solo free ahead of Germany’s Klara Bleyer, and silver in the women’s solo technical.
Meanwhile Italian teenager Gabriele Minak produced a breakthrough performance in the men’s solo free, taking silver behind home athlete Guo Muye.
Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics
The post Two golds for Gonzalez in Spain’s medal success at Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final in China first appeared on European Aquatics®.