At the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final in Xi'an, located in the Chinese mainland's Shaanxi Province, young artistic swimmers made quite a splash by winning seven of the 11 events! 🏊♀️✨
The Chinese team clinched the team acrobatic title while also grabbing a silver and a bronze medal earlier in the day. As the reigning Olympic champions in both duet and team events, they are now blending veteran prowess with vibrant new talent.
Rising star Xu Huiyan, 19, emerged as a standout by securing five gold medals from six events. Although she ended with a bronze in the final solo free event, her display of exceptional technique and energy—despite a grueling competition schedule—was truly inspiring. 💪
Xu admitted, "The intensity of this competition was quite high, with a packed schedule from morning till night. With better stamina, I could have controlled my movements more precisely." Coach Shen Yingsha, who initially had concerns given Xu's challenging slate, praised her performance as exceeding expectations.
In the final solo free event, Vasilina Khandoshka scored 229.8476 to win the event, with Germany's Klara Bleyer following close behind, and Xu securing third with a score of 226.5251. Having started artistic swimming at age seven, Xu trains 8 to 9 hours daily—and sometimes up to 10 hours—to perfect her craft as she prepares for next month's World Championships.
This dazzling performance not only highlights the talent of China's young athletes but also marks a promising transitional era in artistic swimming on the Chinese mainland. It's a splash hit that inspires youth everywhere to dive into their dreams!
Reference(s):
Chinese young artistic swimmers make a splash at home World Cup
cgtn.com
