Vasiliki Alexandri, Greece's artistic swimming champion, finished seventh in the solo free final at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris.
Alexandri was awarded 267.4188 points for her routine, choreographed around the theme of an "artificial heart". She placed seventh among the 12 swimmers who reached the final, one position higher and with a better score than she had recorded in the preliminary round.
Podium Finishers
The gold medal went to Vasilina Khadoska of Russia, who competed as an independent athlete, with 292.3887 points. Germany's Klara Bläger took silver on 289.2463 points, and Spain's Iris Tió Casas won bronze with 284.5550 points.
In artistic swimming, solo competitors perform two distinct routines: a technical routine, built around a set sequence of mandatory elements, and a free routine, in which athletes choreograph their own performance to music and are judged on technical execution and artistic impression. The European Aquatics Championships, held every two years, bring together swimmers, divers, water polo players, open water swimmers and artistic swimmers from across the continent. Athletes from Russia and Belarus have competed as independent athletes at the event rather than under their national flags.
'A Bit Sad' but Satisfied with Her Effort
Speaking after her routine, Alexandri said she had certainly expected something more from herself, but that she was pleased with her effort in reaching a European final for the first time in two years. She said she had received positive feedback about the concept behind the routine and about her solo performance, though she admitted to feeling a little sad about the result. She added that she had also been dealing with health problems in recent times.
Focus Shifts to Technical Solo
Alexandri said her attention had now turned to the technical solo final, scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, at 10:00 and broadcast on ERT2sport in Greece. She described it as a new contest that would start from zero.
She said she did not want to say too much, but that after winning gold in the technical solo in each of the previous two years, gold had to remain her target. Above all, she said, what she wanted was to give one hundred percent in the water and to be satisfied with herself.
