Linda Cerruti and Lucrezia Ruggiero world silver in artistic swimming
Linda Cerruti and Lucrezia Ruggiero world silver in artistic swimming
Closing the third day of the world championships in aquatic disciplines in Fukuoka, Japan, comes the first medal for Italy. In fact, Linda Cerruti and Lucrezia Ruggiero won silver in artistic swimming in pairs. With their Phoenix theme, music The Phoenix by Stefano Simmaco, choreography by Svetlana Romashina, they convinced all the juries and scored 263.0334 points, of which 165.6334 for the eight elements (five compulsory, two hybrids and the initial acrobatic) and 97.4000 for the artistic impression (choreography and music, performance and transition). Most importantly, without making any mistakes.
In the preliminary on Friday they had been eighth with 234.2667 points and taking a penalty in the last leg piece, which they managed to correct in 48 hours. They had also been eighth at the European Games in Auschwitz (226.8250) at the end of June, where Austrians Anna Alexandri and Eirini Alexandri won, but this is another program in which they added new difficulties. Winning are hosts Mashiro Yasunaga and Moe Higa with 273.9500, ten points more than the Azzurri, and surprise bronze medalists are Spain’s Iris Tio Casas and Alisa Ozhogina Ozhogina with 257.8368.
“We are happy with what we did,” says Ruggiero, “and considering that this is our world debut as a pair it is a very good starting point. We didn’t make any mistakes and we achieved the first goal.” “With the introduction of the new rules it is a completely different sport,” Cerruti continues, “that leaves no room for the slightest mistake. It is much more stressful and even the anxiety before the race is very different. I myself, although I don’t do as many races as before, I almost feel more tired because mentally it’s really tough. It’s like a dive that lasts three and a half minutes.”
Linda Cerruti, a 29-year-old from Savona, coached by Patrizia Giallombardo and Benedetta Parisella for Marina Militare and Rari Nantes Savona, 43 medals in 14 years on the national team, including European Cup and World Series, European and World Championships, Eurojuniors and European Games, is living a second sporting life in doubles with a new partner and is at the center of the project to renew the national artistic swimming team. Lucrezia Ruggiero, a 22-year-old from Rome, a two-time world champion in Budapest and European champion in Rome 2022 in the mixed with Giorgio Minisini, coached by Patrizia Giallombardo and a member of Fiamme Oro and Aurelia Nuoto, is starring in a second world debut and first with the all-female doubles.
