When the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games called me to inaugurate the artistic swimming team final, I was very excited. Being able to be in an Olympic final once again, albeit in a different way, is always something special and unique. These are the first Games that I have not experienced from the water and being able to do so as a guest of honour and kick off a competition of this calibre was a source of pride for me and a nice recognition of my career as an athlete.
The three times or three knocks is a French tradition that takes place just before each theatre performance to announce the start of the show. As I was told, there are actually twelve knocks, to silence the audience, and three more to start the show. Seconds before going out, behind the LED screens that overlook the stage, I was waiting with the Australian team, the first team to compete. At that moment, a shiver ran through me and, for a moment, I felt nervous as if I were the one who had to jump into the pool and fight for a medal. When my name was announced and the screens opened, I heard the applause of the Centre Aquatique and felt the affection of all the people who had come, from all over the world, to watch the final. After the opening ceremony, the nerves took over me until China, the last of the teams, finished their routine.
The Spanish team had an excellent competition. On the first day, with the technical team, they did a practically perfect exercise. On Tuesday, with the free routine, the exercise was incredible, except for a small mistake: the fall in one of the acrobatics that resulted in a base mark in the final score. Despite this setback, the team went into the acrobatic final with a strength, security and confidence that, from the moment I saw them on stage, thrilled me. Wednesday’s routine is the most risky, since, as its name indicates, it is the one with the most acrobatics and a single mistake, however small, can take you off the podium.
When the last note of the Spanish routine sounded, I stood up from my seat and felt immense pride for the hard work they have been doing all this time. For me, the greatness of this team is not explained by whether or not they won the medal, but by the fact that they have grown so much in a very close and difficult final and for having reflected that the unity of this team and the great human group that makes it up is unstoppable.
All of them, along with Mayu, the other trainers and members of the staffhave shown with this medal that there are many ways to achieve success. This bronze comes after 12 years, since the last feat achieved in London and a generational change. It has taken time, work and a lot of effort to be back at the top of artistic swimming. What is truly important is that in this process the swimmers have been looked after and mental health has been valued, something essential and that, luckily, is becoming more and more important for more people every day.
The two steps of the podium were completed by the United States and China. The latter was the favourite and did not disappoint. For years, they have been demonstrating almost perfect execution, technique and height. The absence of Russia gave them a direct pass to that long-awaited gold that had still eluded them. Although, personally, on an artistic level, I did not think they were the best team.
The French and American teams, as well as the Spanish team, did pleasantly surprise me with their creativity, interpretation and great artistic presence. The former took a well-deserved fourth place, which shows that the host team has evolved a lot this past year. The Americans, led by Andrea Fuentes, have been the big surprise of these Olympics, getting on the podium for the first time since Atlanta 96. They did three incredible exercises, especially shining in the last one; their acrobatics were impressive.
Despite the new scoring system for artistic swimming, the aforementioned teams have opted to continue to value one of the most beautiful and important parts of our sport, in my opinion: creativity, expression, originality or interpretation. In short, the artistic part.
After the emotional hangover, I have to admit that I feel very fortunate to have been able to be in the pool opening, and then watching, a memorable final that I will always remember. I am very happy and proud of our team and I firmly believe that it will continue to bring us much joy.
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