Interview: China writes "new chapter of history" in artistic swimming, says coach Tarres
SINGAPORE, July 24 (Xinhua) -- China has captured three gold and three silver medals so far in artistic swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, marking a major milestone for the team.
Behind the scenes of the success is a familiar figure in the sport: Spanish coaching legend Ana Tarres.
For Tarres, who joined China's national artistic swimming team ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the results are both a breakthrough and a sign of what lies ahead.
"What we've done in this competition, especially winning the team technical event with the Russian athletes participating, is a new chapter in the history of Chinese artistic swimming," Tarres told Xinhua. "It's the first time China has ever beaten the strong rival in a competition where they were both present. I think this is a good motivation for the girls. Nothing is impossible through a lot of work, discipline, commitment and swimming. That's a step forward."
While China earned its first Olympic gold in artistic swimming at the Paris Games - a feat made possible in part by the Russian athletes' absence - this year's World Championships victory came with the Russian athletes back in the pool, competing under the name Neutral Athletes B (NAB).
In the team technical final, China topped the standings, finishing 7.1818 points ahead of its longtime rival.
Tarres, 56, is no stranger to international podiums. As Spain's head coach from 1997 to 2012, she guided her teams to four Olympic medals, 26 World Championship medals and 25 European medals. She joined China in 2023 and has played a key role in its rise to Olympic champion status.
"What I mostly do is to put in value the talent that they have," she said. "I'm very good in teamwork. I'm very good at trying to get the best version of each swimmer and trying to detect the talent, trying to put it at the service of the team, and then everyone takes benefit of it."
Tarres splits her time between Spain and China, depending on the team's preparation cycle.
The results, she says, speak for themselves. China's athletes exceeded expectations in Singapore, particularly in the marquee team technical and free routines.
"The team events are the king and queen of the sport," Tarres said. "This is our main goal, and we're on the right path."
Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Tarres is focused on sustaining China's momentum. "We only have two chances in the Games - team and duet - and our goal is clear: go for gold in both," she said.
Tarres' coaching career hasn't been without controversy. She parted ways with the Spanish federation in 2012 after allegations of authoritarian coaching - claims she has consistently denied.
Now focused firmly on the future, Tarres says she's not looking back.
"This is the past. Let's focus on the present and the future."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Pakistan searches for Olympic champion after rockfall
Laura Dahlmeier became the first female biathlete to achieve a sprint and pursuit double at the same Olympics in 2018. (AP pic) PESHAWAR : Rescue teams today continued to search for missing German biathlete and double Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier, who was seriously injured in Pakistan after being struck by a rockfall while climbing, a provincial government spokesman said. The accident occurred on Monday when Dahlmeier was hit by a landslide in Hushe Valley in the northern mountain range in Gilgit-Baltistan province, while attempting to summit the 6,094m Laila Peak. A helicopter conducted a search operation on Laila Peak yesterday evening but 'found no signs of life', spokesman Faizullah Faraq said. 'She is missing. We are searching. No one knows where she is,' he said. Two teams of expert climbers from Germany and the US have been deployed, he said. Faraq added that a helicopter rescue operation was not possible due to adverse weather conditions. 'Nothing is visible down there,' he said. The accident occurred around noon on July 28, at an altitude of approximately 5,700m at Laila Peak, said the Alpine Club of Pakistan. Dahlmeier, 31, was climbing with her mountaineering partner when a sudden rockfall hit her, resulting in significant injuries, it said in a statement. The provincial government spokesman identified the climbing partner as Marina Eva Krauss. Krauss successfully descended to base camp and is reported to be in good health, he added. Dahlmeier retired from biathlon in 2019, aged 25, a year after becoming the first female biathlete to achieve a sprint and pursuit double at the same Olympics. Her management did not respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters. Pakistan's northern mountainous regions have experienced heavy flooding and landslides, killing several local tourists during the current monsoon spell of rains. Flooding and other rain-related accidents have killed 288 people in Pakistan since the monsoon season began in late June, says the country's national disaster management authority.
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Marchand smashes long-standing 200m medley world record
SINGAPORE: France's Leon Marchand smashed the 200m individual medley world record in Singapore on Wednesday, setting a new mark of 1min 52.69sec. Swimming in the semi-finals at the world championships, the 23-year-old took more than a second off the previous record of 1:54.00 set by Ryan Lochte in 2011. Marchand beat Michael Phelps's long-standing 400m medley record at the world championships in Japan two years ago. "Actually I can't believe it right now," said Marchand, who won four individual golds in front of his home fans at the Paris Olympics a year ago. "I knew I was going to be close to my PB (personal best) because I felt really good today and preparation has been pretty good. "But 1:52 is unbelievable for me." Marchand took an extended break from swimming after his Paris Olympics heroics and only returned to competition in May. He is focusing on the medley events in Singapore and had said he was going for Lochte's record. Marchand got his world championship campaign under way on Wednesday morning, clocking a time of 1:57.63 in the heats. He said he would go all-out for the record in the semi-finals rather than conserve his energy for Thursday's final. "It was good, I swam well, I think I pretty much did what I wanted to do," Marchand said after his morning heat.
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Swimming-'Dirty gold! Let's Go!' Australia's Turner stunned by 200 butterfly bronze
Swimming - World Aquatics Championships - Men 200m Butterfly - Finals - World Aquatics Championships Arena, Singapore - July 30, 2025 Australia's Harrison Turner in action during the final REUTERS/Hollie Adams (Reuters) -Harrison Turner had to pinch himself to believe he won bronze in the 200 metres butterfly at the world championships in Singapore on Wednesday, the euphoric Australian yelling "Dirty gold! Let's go!" into the cameras after his surprise podium swim. Turner, who finished behind American Luca Urlando and Poland's Krzysztof Chmielewski, became Australia's first medallist in the event at the world championships and his time of one minute and 54.17 seconds was a national record. "I'm lost for words. Being in lane eight, I just snuck in and I thought, I've got a lane, I've got a chance. Yeah, I never would have imagined to sneak in a bronze there," Turner said. "It's unbelievably special for me. I still can't believe it. When I didn't see really anyone to the side, I was like 'jeez, I might actually have a chance here' and then I saw the boys coming at the last 50 meters, I just dug as hard as I could. "I can't believe it ... Yeah, Dirty gold! Let's go!" Turner was first called up to the Australian squad after Kaylee McKeown opted out of the short course world championships in December and the 21-year-old has made steady progress ever since. He made a splash with a swim of 1:54.90 at the Australian trials in Adelaide last month and his time at the Singapore Sports Hub bettered the country's previous mark of 1:54.46 set by Nick D'Arcy in 2009. "It's just that fire that burns deep within your heart," Turner added. "It's why you rock up, do the early mornings, late nights, you're feeling sore, you're feeling shattered through the week and you pick yourself up because you know you've got a job to do. I'm just so stoked to be here representing Australia. "I love it so much. It's an honour to represent the green and gold." (Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
