China achieved its first gold medal in artistic swimming at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, showcasing a dynamic acrobatic team routine that dazzled the judges and secured a substantial score ahead of the United States, which finished with a silver medal.
With Russia, a historically dominant competitor in artistic swimming, banned from the Games, China seized the opportunity to clinch the gold, while the U.S. secured silver and Spain earned bronze.
Dressed in striking red, sequined swimsuits, the Chinese team impressed the audience by launching a swimmer high into the air as she executed flips before landing in the water.
Their acrobatic routine, titled “Light of Life,” featured intense music that complemented the performance, with a singer chanting during key moments.
Feng Yu from the Chinese team expressed that the gold medal represented not just a personal triumph but also a shared aspiration for the entire team. “We have a lot of responsibility on our shoulders,” she remarked.
The swimmers formed a shape resembling a mountain, symbolizing their dedication and hard work leading to this victory, as explained by coach Zhang Xiaohuan. “We wanted to show that this is overcoming difficulties and the peak of the mountain,” she noted.
This year marks the introduction of the acrobatic routine, which includes intricate jumps, flips, and tosses, to Olympic artistic swimming.
The United States performed a mystical routine themed “the sorceresses,” earning their first medal in the team event since the 2004 Athens Games.
China scored 996.1389 points, while the U.S. garnered 914.3421 points and Spain followed with 900.7319 points.
As favorites for the acrobatic team title before the Paris Games, China will have the chance to compete for another gold when the duet artistic swimming event commences on Friday.
Teams from Russia and Belarus have been barred from participating in the Games due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Belarus serving as a launch point for the invasion.