Disappointed synchronized swimmers: “Unfortunately, you stole our gold with it”

The synchronized swimmers Anna-Maria and Eirini-Marina Alexandri have reported back at the World Championships in Fukuoka with a declaration of war.

After the disappointing fifth place in the technique final, the duet made small adjustments for the preliminary competition of the free program on Tuesday and promptly won it with 251.4313 points. Tomorrow’s final will start again from scratch.

Especially after the damper in the technical final, the scent mark set on Tuesday was “very important for self-confidence”, as Anna-Maria emphasized. The two 25-year-olds have reacted to the previous assessments of the World Cup adjudicators and minimized the degree of difficulty.

“After what happened on Sunday, we no longer know what they (the adjudicators; note) actually want from us,” Eirini-Marina made it clear that she does not want to leave her assessment in the first medal decision as it is. “For us it wasn’t a base mark in the technical final. The whole bath confirmed that to us. And if I may say so – unfortunately they stole gold from us. That’s just the way it is,” said Anna-Maria. OSV sports director Walter Bär sent a statement of facts to the management of the controlling commission and expressed the OSV displeasure.

In view of these irritations, it is not surprising that Sister Vasiliki is a bit unsure about the free solo final on Wednesday. In the technical final, the oldest of the trio won silver.

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Free swimmer Jan Hercog finished the five-kilometer distance in 21st place. The 25-year-old was in 14th place in the finish sprint and was pulled back by an opponent on his foot. “It’s a shame, that hurts a little,” said the Styrian, who nonetheless took confidence with him.

From Sunday it will be serious for the pool swimmers.