Fukuoka, Japan, July 22, 2023: China's Cheng Wentao and Shi Haoyu claimed the mixed duet free title as artistic swimming wrapped up its final day's competition at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan on Saturday, reports Xinhua News.
Cheng, 25, and Shi, 21, scored 225.1020 points to secure their second gold and third medal at the Fukuoka worlds following their victory in the team acrobatic event and mixed duet technical bronze.
With a routine carrying a total difficulty of 35.7500, the Chinese pair scored 86.70 for artistic impression and 138.4020 for execution.
"Today's performance was crazy because we changed four elements," said Shi, China's first male artistic swimmer. "This is our best score. We are the best team and we are doing very well. We are proud of our team."
It was China's third gold medal from artistic swimming and 14th overall, with two more diving events on Saturday, before the swimming competition kicks off Sunday in the July 14-30 world championships.
Mexico's Itzamary Gonzalez Cuellar, 19, and Diego Villalobos Carrillo, 18, took silver with 192.5500, 32.5520 points behind the winners, and Dennis Gonzalez Boneu, 19, and Mireia Hernandez Luna, 21, won the bronze with 183.4207.
Thailand’s Kantinan Adisaisiributr, 16, and Voranan Toomchay, 21, came eighth with 135.6167; Kazakhstan’s Nargiza Bolatova, 19, and Eduard Kim, 17, were ninth with 133.6979; and Korea’s Byun Jaejun, 20, and Kim Jihye, 19, came 10th with a score of 125.1542.
