In the latest World Swimming Championships held in Budapest, the Spanish duet of Alisa Ozogina and Iris Tio delivered a solid performance in a high-profile artistic freestyle duet final. The event showcased top teams from China, Ukraine, and Austria on the podium, highlighting fierce competition across the lineup.
During the routine set to flamenco-inspired music, Alisa Ozogina, a Sevillian by training, and Iris Tio, who hails from Barcelona with roots tracing to Russia, gave a memorable showing that landed them in the upper tier. The duo finished the final in fifth place with a total score just beyond 90 points, closing in on the threshold of 91. Their execution demonstrated a blend of precision and expressive interpretation that resonated with judges, reinforcing the team’s status as a strong contender in international artistic swimming. The pair had previously qualified for the finals by achieving a 90-point mark in the Thursday session, underscoring steady momentum throughout the competition.
Nearby, the Italian sisters Linda Cerruti and Costanza Ferro maintained a steady ascent, narrowly missing a podium position with a score slightly above 2.13 in the evaluation framework. The Alexandri sisters from Austria, Ana-Maria and Eirini, climbed to the third tier with a score of 92.800, leaving room for a dramatic finish in the final rounds. The Spanish duo, having placed fifth in Tuesday’s qualifiers, validated their advancement on Thursday by securing a place among the top teams and surpassing the 90-point line. The competition structure rewards consistent artistry and technical depth, which the Spanish pair demonstrated once again under pressure.
In the same arena, the Wang twins Liuyi and Qianyi from China claimed the gold with a commanding 95.5667 total. The Ukrainian sisters Matyna and Vladyslava Alexiva followed in second with 94.1667, edging out a closely grouped field for silver. These results reflect Ukraine’s depth in artistic swimming and the continued strength of the Chinese program on the world stage.
The morning session had the Spanish team finishing third in the modality’s qualifying round, a testament to their consistency. The finals saw Ukraine register a strong lead with 94.2333, followed by Italy at 91.6667 and Spain close behind at 91.3667. The event, which joined the World Championships starting in 2019, offers participants more freedom to blend artistic expression with athletic speed, a balance that the Spaniards have pursued with increasing confidence. This phase of the schedule is crucial for teams to demonstrate cohesion, synchronization, and creative interpretation under time pressure.
Speaking to observers, a Spanish federation representative noted that the team aims to reclaim even those small margins, reminding fans and competitors that every tenth can be pivotal in the final standings. The sentiment reflected the team’s belief in their capacity to refine elements and push their artistic execution to new levels as the meet progresses.
water polo exhibition
The Spanish men’s water polo squad posted a decisive victory in their second match, reinforcing their status as a leading team in Group C as the tournament progresses. The scoreline in the match against South Africa was an emphatic 28-2, and the result positioned the team at the top of the group, with direct paths to the quarterfinals anticipated. A forthcoming match against Italy promised another stern test, though it was noted that the contest against Canada faced scheduling uncertainty due to COVID-19 concerns affecting Canada’s roster. The sport’s governing body would determine how to resolve the situation and what adjustments, if any, would follow. In the win against South Africa, Álvaro Granados orchestrated the attack, contributing six goals and showcasing the team’s offensive versatility and depth.
On the diving and sprint side of the program, the field saw a standout performance from Australian teenager Mollie O’Callaghan in the women’s 100-meter freestyle final, where she clocked 52.80 seconds to claim victory. She edged out a formidable field, including Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström and the United States’ Torri Huske, who finished with times very close to the winning mark. In the women’s 200-meter breaststroke, American Lily King touched first with a time of 2:22.41, defeating Austria’s Jenna Strauch at 2:23.04 and the United States’ Kate Douglas at 2:23.20. The results underscore the depth of talent across nations in sprint and mid-distance events, as well as the ongoing evolution of breaststroke technique and pacing strategies that define current competition at the elite level. [Citation: World Aquatics]