Doha, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 Doha World Swimming Championships ended all the synchronized swimming competitions on the 10th, and with Cheng Wentao and Shi Haoyu successfully defending their titles in the mixed doubles free selection final, the Chinese team created the best record in the team history of the World Championships with 7 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze.
On February 10, Cheng Wentao (left) and Shi Haoyu in the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Luo Yuan.
On the morning of the 10th, Huayou carried out the last event - the mixed doubles free selection final, and the defending champion Cheng Wentao and Shi Haoyu won the highest 2241437 points, adding another gold to the Chinese team. Spain's González Bonneu Hernández Luna and Mexico's Mesa Rodriguez Villalobos Carrio finished second and third respectively. In all 11 competitions, the Chinese Huayou team created the best record of the Chinese team in the World Championships with 7 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze.
Zhang Xiaohuan, head coach of the Chinese Huayou team, commented after the match: "In the mixed doubles technical free-selection final, our competitors were penalized for difficult points, but they (Cheng Wentao and Shi Haoyu) also made mistakes and failed to catch the gold medal. When they were free to choose, they held their breath, and they finally landed on the ground when they won this gold medal. Shi Haoyu is still troubled by an elbow injury, but he is very strong and has not given up. ”
On February 10, Cheng Wentao (second from right) and Shi Haoyu (second from left) celebrated with their coaches after learning the results. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Luo Yuan.
Zhang Xiaohuan also maintains a cautious and calm attitude towards the best record in the World Championships, believing that this does not mean that China's Huayou has firmly established the world's No. 1 position.
Although we have an absolute advantage in the medal table, the world has not yet formed a stable pattern. Under the new scoring system, even the slightest mistake can lead to missing out on a medal, giving more teams a chance to compete for medals, and no one is a winning general. In the pairs event, the opponents change frequently, and the team USA is improving very quickly, so it will be a challenge for us. Zhang Xiaohuan said.
On February 9, the champion China team (center), the runner-up Japan team (left) and the third place team of the United States at the award ceremony. On the same day, the Chinese team won the championship in the 2024 World Aquatics Championships synchronized swimming collective free selection final held in Doha, Qatar. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xue Yuge.
Facing the Paris Olympics, Zhang Xiaohuan said that although he has won excellent results and confidence through the World Championships, the task in the coming months is still arduous.
I've already started analysing the underwater movements and technical routes of the teams at the World Championships, and I'm also thinking about what could be improved in our choreography. Zhang Xiaohuan said, "Every time the teams compete in the competition, they compete in terms of mental power, physical strength, creativity and strategy and tactics, and these pressures make me always stay alert and learn." ”
*:Xinhua.