Rome09 Newsletter7
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rd Thursday, 23 July 2009 - Newsletter # 777 Synchro: Solo Free Italy enters the world’s “elite club” Natalia Ishchenko gave Russia its fourth gold The other highlight of the day was the third medal of the synchronised swimming place of Beatrice Adelizzi – the first Italian After day 6 competitions at the 13th FINA World medal in synchronised swimming at a FINA Championships Rome 2009 by winning the final World Championships. Until the start of the of the Solo Free event. After the victories in the competition in Rome, only six countries had Gold Silver Bronze TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL Team Technical, Solo Technical (also made it to the podium in the history of this Ishchenko) and Duet Technical, Russia is competition: USA, Canada, Russia, Japan, dominating the operations, but is also being France and Spain. After the first five events of CHN 5 5 5 151515 closely followed by Spain, who conquered the the programme, two more nations have made RUS 5 2 0 777 silver medal (its fourth, in the events where their entry into this group: China (two bronze GBR 2 0 0 222 GER 2 0 0 222 Russians were first), one day after getting its and one silver, but no participation in the solo first World Championships’ gold in the Free events), and now Italy. Adelizzi (born in ESP 1 4 0 555 AUS 1 0 1 222 Combination. In third, a new nation made its November 1988) was evidently very happy with MEX 1 0 0 111 entry into the “club” of countries having this result: “It has a special taste, as it was USA 0 4 1 555 medalled at the FINA World Championships – obtained in Rome, the city where I train with my CAN 0 1 4 555 Italy (with its star Beatrice Adelizzi). teammates. This medal represents a lot of effort GRE 0 1 0 111 and was also obtained thanks to the ITA 0 0 3 333 Ishchenko got the first perfect ‘10’ of the outstanding support of the crowd, which was BRA 0 0 1 111 championships and finished her final with a total fantastic”. MAS 0 0 1 111 of 98.833, half a point more than Mengual RSA 0 0 1 111 (98.333). However, the silver medal of the Before this result, Italians were close to the TOTAL 171717 171717 171717 515151 Iberian icon was more celebrated by the Italian podium in these championships at home, public than Ishchenko’s gold and in the Press coming fourth in the Solo Technical (also Conference, Mengual could not contain her Adelizzi) and Free Combination. Canada, emotion when recalling the support she already with two bronze medals in Rome, was received in the stands of the pool at the Foro fourth this time, with a very solid performance managed to secure first place just two times in Italico: “For me, it’s like I have won the gold from Chloé Isaac, while Japan’s Yumi Adachi the history of the World Championships – in medal,” confessed Mengual, who was indeed finished fifth. 1994 (with Zhuocheng Yu) and in 2007 (Qin hoping for a gold in this event (in direct Kai). This discipline can be historically confrontation with the Russians, who did not associated with Dmitry Sautin (RUS), who was swim the Free Combination event). “We have DIVING the owner of the 3m world crown twice, and tried everything, but we still couldn’t manage to wanted to finish his great career precisely here get the gold. We have displayed some new Chong He gives China fifth gold in Rome, but after the Russian pair failed to get ideas on a technical and artistic point of view, a medal in synchro (on July 18), Sautin decided but the marks did not follow our effort,” Chong He (CHN) has proved his superiority on not to compete in the individual 3m at all. commented the Spanish head coach Anna 3m springboard again today at the 13th FINA Tarres. World Championships. He, who won this event This decision appeared reasonable. Diving a year ago at the Beijing Olympic Games, took progress usually moves in waves: the difficulty Performing to a “modern” version of John the title over US veteran and silver medalist of the dives increases first and later the quality Lennon’s “Yesterday”, Mengual was asked if Troy Dumais, while Alexandre Despatie (CAN) of the execution follows suit. When a diver is the title of this music could symbolise her took third. This victory gives Chong He his still able to demonstrate perfect quality, but imminent retirement from the pools after the fourth World Championships medal, as he won must refuses the elevated degree of difficulty 2009 FINA World Championships (Mengual is the 3m synchro gold and 3m individual bronze because of the age or injuries (like Sautin has) now 32 years old), the Iberian star could not in 2005, as well as a gold in the 10m platform in it means that his time for medals has gone. hold her tears: “I have been competing for so 2003. many years at the highest level… I think I now The Chinese divers were the first to reach very deserve some vacation…” she said, avoiding It is not easy to explain but the 3m springboard high level in both categories. They were going further into her thoughts. The mystery has been the least fortunate event for China’s especially successful at the Olympics (four remains… divers than any other discipline. They have victories at the last four Games). Chong He won in Bei jing with very high result (572.90), HUDSON. New Zealand was never going to win WATER POLO and of course many of the competitors knew he but made life hard for the Aussie Stingers. Like was the athlete to beat in the final here in Top four decided in women’s water polo in the game against Canada, New Zealand Rome. wilted under the superior fitness and counter- Hungary, Russia, Australia and Spain have attack of the opposition in the final quarter. Alexander Despatie has come pretty close to Neither side could convert extra with ease. In qualified top of their groups and will contest the doing it. He finished second in Beijing as well fact, the Kiwis missed all 12 chances. Only one quarter-finals of the women’s water polo as at the last World Championships in competition at the FINA World Championships from 18 shows terrific defence. Melbourne, scoring the highest points here in next week. Rome in the preliminaries, but just earning Game 34, 10:50, women, CAN 20 RSA 5 bronze in the final. In the meantime, the second and third-ranked Referees: Gideon REEMNET (NED), Ulrich teams in each group will play the second round SPIEGEL (GER). “Two years ago I had more competitions and it Quarters: 3-3, 6-1, 6-0, 5-1 on Saturday to decide who will join the top four was important. A diver must be mentally ready, in the hunt for medals. Extra man: CAN 5/8; RSA 0/7 not only physically,” he said, adding: “I needed Canada and South Africa were playing for pride the last dive to give me something better. I wish It was a day where the leading teams had little as the group winner had already been decided it was better. I didn't know where I was standing trouble in getting through as the draw displayed and Canada was expected to win easily. This during the competition. I have gotten two the better match-ups earlier in the week. gave coach OATEN a chance to play his team, bronze at these world championships and it is a work on tactics and combinations for the good result considering my injuries this year. I Group A was mastered by 2005 champion important second round and possible medal am happy, now I will go for a short holiday and Hungary with an 18-5 victory over Uzbekistan. hunt. South Africa did well to score five times prepare for next season which will be full of The real action came in the evening’s last against Canada but will look to the 13th-16th competitions”. match when 2004 Olympic champion Italy play-offs on Saturday and Monday. needed a 1-0 final quarter to beat China 11-10 The results of the medallists were not too high. Game 35, 12:10, women, GER 6 NED 8 and finish second in the group. The conditions of outdoor pool can’t be Referees: Irfan SADEKOV (RUS), Nenad compared with an indoor. The air temperature Group B saw Russia win with a 23-4 demolition PERIS (CRO). was very high and this always makes athletes of Kazakhstan while the World League Quarters: 0-4, 1-0, 3-3, 2-1 tired. Besides the fact that it was difficult to champion United States of America downed Extra man: GER 2/4; NED 2/15 concentrate, they were doing a free programme Greece 12-8. The Netherlands looked to be a runaway winner with plenty of complicated combinations for the of this game following a strong opening quarter third time in two days. Group C was claimed by World Cup champion but the Germans worked tirelessly to get back Australia on the tiebreak, defeating neighbour into the game aq7 4-2 only to see the Dutch go These were the reasons for the mistakes. New Zealand 14-4. Canada came second with 7-4 ahead at the end of the third period. Two Chong He was not perfect in his second, fourth a 20-5 scuttling of South Africa.