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ROME, Italy, July 22. WITH Russia sitting out the free combination team round, Spain had a golden opportunity to claim gold in synchronized swimming at the FINA World Championships.
Spain's Alba Cabello, Ona Carbonell, Raquel Corral, Margalida Crespi, Andrea Fuentes, Thais Henriquez, Paula Klamburg, Gemma Mengual, Gisela Moron and Irina Rodriguez won the free combination gold medal with 98.333 points. The team collected 49.333 points from artistic impression and 49 points from technical merit.
China's Huang Xuechen, Jiang Tingting, Jiang Wenwen, Liu Qu, Luo Xi, Shi Xin, Sun Wenyan, Wang Na, Wu Yiwen and Zhang Xiaohuan captured silver with 97.667 points. The Chinese tallied 49 points in artistic impression and 48.667 in technical merit.
Canada's Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon, Camille Bowness, Jo-Annie Fortin, Sandy Gill, Chloe Isaac, Eve Lamoureux, Stephanie Leclair, Elise Marcotte, Karine Thomas and Valerie Welsh completed the podium with a bronze-winning 96.167 points. The Canadians garnered 48.167 points for artistic impression and 48 for technical merit.
In solo free prelims, the queen of the sport Natalia Ishchenko of Russia led the way with 98.5 points. Mengual qualified second with 98 points, while Italy's Beatrice Adelizzi placed third with 94.667 points.