Sell-out crowds witnessed four high-class finals on Sunday, culminating in the Team Acrobatic final featuring the host nation and six fellow Olympic qualifiers. The World Cup, which was the first official competition in the new venue, was hailed as a “huge success” by athletes and officials alike.

“The experience was enchanting for us in a wonderful venue,” French Federation of Swimming chief executive Laurent Ciubini told World Aquatics.

“Everyone tells us they are happy, so we are quite delighted by this experience.”

Women Solo Free

Diving first into the pool were the women in the 25-strong Solo Free competition, which featured Anita Alvarez of the USA.

The two-time Olympian, who is set to compete in her third Games this summer, was competing in the Solo Free event for the first time since passing out and being rescued from the water by her coach at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships.

She delivered a strong, emotional performance and attained a score of 215.7707, which put her in contention for a podium place.

The medals would go to three of the final four swimmers though with Marloes Steenbeek of the Netherlands (226.6250) and German Klara Bleyer (229.3499) matching their results in Friday’s Technical final with bronze and silver respectively.

Vasiliki Alexandri secured gold for the second time at the Paris stop of the Artistic Swimming World Cup.

Boosted by her previous solo success and her sisters’ Duet Free title on previous days, Alexandri achieved a standout score of (257.3939) for her ‘fight for survival’ themed routine.

“I was a little bit tired compared to the first day, but that is normal and I felt a little less pressure because the pool is great to compete in,” she told World Aquatics.

“I am very happy with the way it felt and now I have the European Championships in a month to work towards where I would again like to work for a medal.”

Men Solo Free

After a dominant performance in the Technical event on Friday most eyes were again keenly focused on Colombia’s 2024 World bronze medallist Gustavo Sanchez.

His self-confessed “hard” routine carried a degree of difficulty (DD) of 31.2500, but the 23-year-old delivered a measured yet energetic display to achieve an unmatchable 204.0210.

“My mum was here (in the crowd), and it’s the first time she’s seen me compete in an international competition, so it was a really special moment for me,” Sanchez told World Aquatics.

“I won a bronze medal (with this routine) in Doha (2024 World Championships) but we still have so much to improve which is hard work, but I’m so happy to have this medal.”

Viktor Druzin of Kazakhstan was also targeting a large score with his own DD of 30.7500, but despite not quite performing a clean routine his score of 163.7189 was still enough for silver.

Completing the podium places by adding Free bronze to his Tech silver was USA’s Kenneth Guadet (161.6187).

“It was great to finish on a bang and another medal,” the American told World Aquatics.

“It (the routine) has an Anime theme because I’m a huge anime fan and it’s a big part of me, so that routine is special to me and I plan to get some more (anime) tattoos soon!”

Mixed Duet Free

The crowd were treated to another entertaining session as the mixed duet competition concluded with seven pairs battling it out in the free discipline final.

In the Tech final on Saturday base marks narrowly cost the Colombia’s Gustavo Sanchez and Jennifer Cerquera Hatiusca a place on the podium, but they were much improved in their second showing.

A score of 183.0501 saw them claim silver, ahead of Italian duo Flamina Vernice and Filippo Pelati (176.5708).

Topping the standings, for the first time in their career together, were the Spanish duo Judith Calvo Requena and Jordi Caceres Iglesias (189.2749).

“We enjoy performing this routine together and we are very pleased to come away with this medal from what was a hard, but fun competition,” Caceres Iglesias told World Aquatics.

Team Acrobatic

Rounding off the finals were the ten Team Acrobatic line-up which, as a discipline, will be included in the Olympic Games for the first time this summer.

The local fans were immediately rising to their feet and the French flags were waving wildly as their national team entered the arena first.

Every moment of their energetic performance was cheered on by the crowd who gave a glimpse of just how special the atmosphere will be here come Games-time.

Team France scored an impressive 229.4667, which kept them top of the standings until Team Tech winners Mexico completed an outstanding routine which attained 251.7867.

“I think that we are doing something really special,” Nuria Diosdado told World Aquatics after performing to the track ‘Matlalcueye’.

“The younger ones have all the energy and all of the dreams that they want to achieve and we the other, older half of the team have the experience and we can teach them how to swim without doubts.”

Japan edged in just behind with 248.5234, with the USA’s total of 243.9366 seeing them move into the bronze medal position. 

They expected world champions China to push them off the rostrum but base mark errors meant they would finish fourth.

“We’ve modified our routines and we’ve made a lot of changes so we’re in the middle of the final product, so to see we’d made a medal was incredible,” USA’s Bill May told World Aquatics.

“We’ve been working really hard, but we’re only a small percentage of what you’re going to see at the Olympics.”

He, like the rest of the American artistic swimmers, will learn whether he has done enough to earn a place in the Team USA squad for Paris 2024 on 7 June.