Spain shines with duet free double at artistic swimming junior worlds

Silver medalists He Zhien/Zhou Kunyi (L) of China pose for photograph during the awarding ceremony for the Women's Duet Free Event of the World Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 15, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Spain stole the spotlight at the 2026 World Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships on Saturday, sweeping both the women's duet free and mixed duet free titles with routines of high difficulty and expressive artistry.

In the women's duet free final, Naia Alvarez Vicente and Daniela Suarez Fernandez, both 17, won the title with 298.6813 points.

China's He Zhien and Zhou Kunyi performed a routine themed "Moderation" to take silver with 295.0701, while Russia's Kristina Chekhanova and Anastasiia Sidorina finished third with 294.0996.

"The competition is really intense, but that is exactly what makes it so valuable," He said. "I have learned a lot from the Russian and Spanish swimmers, especially how they stay composed and maintain control under pressure. Their explosiveness and artistic expression left a deep impression on me."

Spain took another title in the mixed duet free later in the day, as Arlet Arnan Santacruz and Eneko Sanchez Aguilar scored 263.2992 to win gold. Kazakhstan's Yasmina Islamova and Aldiyar Ramazanov finished second, with Japan's Heizo Aitaka and Manami Dodo taking bronze.

China's Chen Xiuping and Wang Ziyan, performing a routine titled "Bound by Dust," suffered an opening-lift problem and placed fourth with 246.7209.

The day closed with the team acrobatic final. China's routine had errors in the fourth and sixth lifts, leaving them seventh on 190.6501.

Russia won with 232.2147, followed by Kazakhstan with 203.0926 and Belarus with 200.9777.

After four days, Russia leads the medal table with six golds, followed by Spain on two, while China has collected four silvers and one bronze.

The championships will conclude on Sunday with the women's solo free, men's solo free and team free finals. ■

Chen Xiuping/Wang Ziyan (L) of China react during the Mixed Duet Free Event of the World Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Aug. 15, 2026. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

Chen Xiuping/Wang Ziyan (R) of China perform during the Mixed Duet Free Event of the World Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 15, 2026. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

Chen Xiuping/Wang Ziyan (R) of China perform during the Mixed Duet Free Event of the World Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Aug. 15, 2026. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

He Zhien/Zhou Kunyi (R) of China perform during the Women's Duet Free Event of the World Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 15, 2026. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

Wang Ziyan of China performs during the Mixed Duet Free Event of the World Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 15, 2026. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

Zhou Kunyi of China performs during the Women's Duet Free Event of the World Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 15, 2026. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

He Zhien (R)/Zhou Kunyi of China perform during the Women's Duet Free Event of the World Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 15, 2026. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)