Host Russia won its fifth straight gold in the synchronised swimming team free event, at the world championships here on Friday. Russia has won the team free gold at every championships since the event was introduced in Melbourne in 2007.
The Russians claimed gold with a winning tally of 98.4667 points as China took silver with 96.1333 and Japan the bronze with 93.9000.
The Russians have now won seven of the eight synchronised swimming events in Kazan, with only the free routine combination still to come, having swept the board with seven golds from seven events in Barcelona two years ago.
Three of Russia’s veterans, Angelika Timanina, Alla Shishkina and Aleksandra Patskevich, have won gold medals for the fourth consecutive championships having been part of Russia's winning team from 2009.
Chao takes gold He Chao gave the Chinese men’s diving team its fourth gold medal and seventh in total with three events still to come.
He, the younger brother of He Chong, the 2008 Olympic champion in the event who failed to qualify, claimed his first world title on his championships debut with a winning score of 555.05 points.
Russia's Ilia Zhakarov claimed silver with 547.60 while Britain's Jack Laugher, who had led after the second round, claimed his second bronze of the championships here having also finished third in the 3m springboard synchro, with 528.90.
On Thursday, scissor-kicking to ‘Swan Lake’ in front of a cheering home crowd, Russia’s mixed duet team rallied to overtake the United States for gold in the mixed duet free event.
Americans Bill May and Kristina Lum-Underwood were leading after their ‘Firebird’ routine, but the Russian duo of Aleksandr Maltsev and Darina Valitova won over the judges with their expressive ballet moves.
The results: Synchronised swimming: Team free: 1. Russia (98.4667); 2. China (96.1333); 3. Japan (93.9000).
Mixed duet free: 1. Alexander Maltsev & Darina Valitova (Rus) 91.7333; 2. Bill May & Kristina Lum-Underwood (USA) 91.4667; 3. Giorgio Minisini/Mariangela Perrupato (Ita) 89.3333.
Diving: 3m men: 1. He Chao (Chn, 555.05); 2. Ilia Zhakarov (Rus, 547.60); 2. Jack Laugher (GBR, 528.90).
10m women: 1. Kim Kuk Hyang (PRK) 397.05; 2. Ren Qian (Chn) 388.00; 3. Pamg Pandelela Rinong Anak (Mas) 385.05.
