The mixed synchronized swimming comes true at the 52nd edition of Trofeo Settecolli Clear/Internazionali di Nuoto after the official approval of the Federation Internationale de Natation, through its introduction in the World Championship program in Kazan.
The FINA Test Event Mixed Duet proved its points of strength: balance between strength, plasticity, creativity and diversity. The technical exercise is won by the Russian duet composed by Darina Valitova and Aleksandr Maltsev with 87,314 scores; ahead Italian Manila Flamini and Giorgio Minisini (86,515), the Turkish Gokce Akgun and Yagmur Ceylan Demircan (72,204) and the Colombians Jhair Galeano and Laura Marquez (71,666).
The event of the synchronized swimming – occurring also on Sunday with free routine – is a good opportunity to award the Directors, who changed through 40 years of synchro in Italy: Rumilde Cucchetti, Cathy O'Brien, Stefania Tudini (Laura De Renzis and Patrizia Giallombardo are absent because of international events) who received flowers and plaques from the President Paolo Barelli. Forty years of history with 23 European medals and one bronze won by Beatrice Adelizzi at the World Championships in Rome 2009.

Here below the releases of the duet participating in the event.

Gokce Akgun and Yagmur Ceylan Demircan (Tur): “We swim together from 5 months, but we are satisfied about our performance. We have done well. It was the best we could do”.

Darina Valitova and Aleksandr Maltsev (Rus): “We had good feelings but we have not reviewed our performance to express our opinion. We are training together since February. At the beginning was good but fitting the different movements was hard. Now it is simpler and we know our potential. We are happy to be in Rome. The competition, the pool and the city are wonderful”.

Jhair Galeano and Laura Marquez (Col): “We are very happy about this mixed duet competition because we can perform exercises that usually are difficult to present individually. Even if we swim together from a few time, we are in good harmony. Maybe we will participate in the Championships in Kazan”.

Giorgio Minisini and Manila Flamini (Ita): “We are happy considering the 8 tenths to Russia and with work, we could improve our performance. Anyway it is an important result, considering that we are training from only three weeks and this is our first competition”.

Giorgio Minisini (Ita): “Now Kazan is close. Being here is satisfying and important for me. When I was child I saw the other athletes winning, so the World Championships are a more step”.

Manila Flamini: “Playing with a man is not so different. What you perform in the water is always synchronized swimming. It is only artistically different. Man is stronger than a woman and this is an advantage”.