Fukuoka, Japan, July 21, 2023: China and Japan dominated the artistic swimming team free final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan on Friday, July 21.
China won the gold medal with a score of 329.1687 points comprised of 126.25 for artistic impression and 202.9187 for execution of a routine with a total difficulty of 47.35.
Japan won the silver medal with 317.8085 points, 11.3602 behind China, by scoring 126.75 for artistic impression and 191.0585 for execution of a routine marked at 45.85 total difficulty.
Ukraine won the bronze medal by finishing third of the 12-strong field with a score of 256.2415, 72.9272 points behind the champions.
Kazakhstan came in 11th with a score of 185.0375 comprised of 104.35 for artistic impression and 80.6875 for execution of a routine with a total difficulty of 22.25.
This was China’s second gold medal in artistic swimming, following their victory in the team acrobatic, and took them to 13 gold medals for the week, with 11 of them coming in diving.
China’s eight-strong team in the team free final was: Chang Hao (26), Feng Yu (23), Wang Ciyue (23), Wang Liuyi (26), Wang Qianyi (26), Xiang Binxuan (21), Xiao Yanning (25) and Zhang Yayi (26).
Japan’s silver medal-winners were: Moe Higa (15), Moeka Kijima (23), Uta Kobayashi (20), Ayano Shimada (17), Ami Wada (20), Akane Yanagisawa (24), Mashiro Yasunaga (24) and Megumu Yoshida (28).
China ended the eighth day of the July 14-30 world championships with 13 gold medals, four silver and three bronze for a total of 20 medals, and Japan came in second with 4-1-3, ahead of Germany in third place with 4-0-2 thanks to their prowess in open water swimming.
Spain are fourth on 3-1-2, and Italy fifth with 1-3-2.
Saturday sees the last artistic swimming event of these World Championships, the mixed duet free, with China's Cheng Wentao and Shi Haoyu finishing well clear in Friday's prelims.