Photos Available for download: PHOTOS – ANTOINE SAITO – Google Drive
Photo Credit: Antoine Saito/Canada Artistic Swimming
Entries and Results: Competition Results | AQUA Official (fina.org)
Videos: Artistic Swimming World Cup Markham 2023 – YouTube
Markham, March 18, 2023 – Canadians Isabelle BLANCHET-RAMPLING, 37, & Robert PREVOST, 43, won the silver medal in the Mixed Duet Free at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup event hosted by Canada Artistic Swimming at the Markham Pan Am Centre.
The gold medal went to Maria BOFILL STRUB, 17, & Dennis GONZALEZ BONEU, 18, who represent Spain. They scored 227.7876 for their free routine which Bofill Strud described as ‘powerful’. The veteran Canadians scored 206.1208 to earn their first international medal since the 2017 World Series event. Blanchet-Rampling admitted to nerves when competing yesterday, and said they had “better energy” in today’s swim. The duo thanked the fans for their support and stated their goal is ‘to inspire others to feel free to play and enjoy the water.’ The bronze medal was won by Lisa INGENITO, 24, & Renaud BARRAL, 34, from Belgium with a score of 172.3793. Although the second entry from Spain, Maria HERNANDEZ I LUNA, 21, & Fernando DIAZ del RIO SOTO, 20, scored 194.5083, only one medal/country per event is awarded.
The Italian duo of Linda CERRUTTI, 29 & Lucrezia RUGGIERO, 22, topped the 14 entries in the Women’s Duet Free event and won the gold medal with a score of 321.2667. The two have only been partners since September of 2022. “It’s pretty cool to see how I’m doing with Linda because it is something new,” said Ruggiero who had won previous international medals. For Cerrutti, it was her first gold medal on the World Cup circuit and “it was very cool to listen to our anthem on the podium.”
They were almost 30 points ahead of the twin sisters from Ukraine, Maryna ALEKSIIVA & Vladyslava ALEKSIIVA, both 21, who scored 291.6916 in front of a special cheering section of newly arrived Ukrainians in the crowd. “We are very appreciative and feel very supported from our people,” said Maryna. “It inspired us to show our best results,” added Vladyslava. Taking the bronze medal were Shelly BOBRITSKY, 21, & Ariel NASSEE, 19, from Israel with a score of 281.5043.
Canada did not have any entries in the Women’s Duet Free.
The final event of the competition was the Acrobatic Routine which features eight athletes per country competing together. There were seven entries, with the gold medal being won by Ukraine, who scored 244.4958 and again had a large cheering section in the crowd. As team member Maryna ALEKSIIVA, 21, said, “We were so pleased to see so much Ukrainian support. It is very important to show our bravery, to show our strength … because we defend our country in sport.”
In second place was the team from Japan who scored 223.6875. Megumu YOSHIDA, 27, said that overall this competition was a very good experience, “We could learn what rival countries are doing and also what we need to do and also to see room for enhancements.” The USA narrowly finished ahead of Canada for the bronze medal, scoring 204.9959 to finish just 3.66 in front of the Canadians who scored 201.3291. Elizabeth DAVIDSON, 21, said on behalf of the Americans, “It’s been really fun, a very sport type of environment that we are really enjoying and we feel a lot of energy and good things coming from it.”
Canada was represented by Scarlet FINN, 21, Laurianne IMBEAU, 19, Jonnie NEWMAN, 17, Raphaelle PLANTE, 20, Kiara QUIETI, 21, Claire SCHEFFEL, 19, Florence TREMBLAY, 18, and Olena VERBINSKA, 14. Jonnie Newman described the Canadian experience of competing in Markham. “It’s the most fun routine ever. You just feel it from the heart and you’re able to swim it with so much energy and it feels so great as a team to swim it. Just being in front of the home crowd and seeing the red and white in the stands gave us so much energy and made us feel really proud to be able to wear the maple leaf.”
Although Spain finished in sixth place, they were very proud to make history, by including two men on the team, a first in the sport.
The three-day competition concluded with a Gala water show where the athletes performed exhibition routines in front of the sold-out crowd at the Markham Pan Centre.
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