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Ishchenko scoops gold, targets London
Russia's Natalia Ishchenko scooped her 12th world championships gold medal as she combined with Svetlana Romashina to win the synchronised swimming duets technical competition on Monday.
Russia's Natalia Ishchenko scooped her 12th world championships gold medal as she combined with Svetlana Romashina to win the synchronised swimming duets technical competition on Monday.
The 25-year-old Ishchenko, who won her third successive solo technical gold on Sunday, dazzled to an upbeat jungle-themed routine with heavy drum rhythms and animal calls to help score 98.20 points, which brought an audible gasp from the small crowd that bounced around the Oriental Sports Centre.
China's Huang Xuechen, who clinched silver behind Ishchenko in the solo competition, was second with Liu Ou on 96.50.
Ishchenko said she and Romashina would continue to work together at the London Olympics next year.
"We will participate in the Olympic Games. We will work but we can't say the goal," Ishchenko told reporters.
Meanwhile, China overcame a rare wobble to claim gold and silver in the men's 1m springboard and stay on track for a historic clean sweep of world championships diving titles.
Li Shixin stormed back from a ragged dive three to clinch first place, while compatriot He Min clawed his way from fourth to second spot, leap-frogging Germany's Pavlo Rozenberg with his very last plunge.
