The third leg of the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup is heading back to Markham, Canada, with 23 nations entered in this final regular-season meet before the Super Final in June.
With several Olympic teams and duets returning to competition for the first time since the Paris Games, fans can expect a packed weekend of high-caliber performances, debuts, new routines, and, yes, farewells.
Mexico, which finished seventh in Paris last summer, is finally making its season debut, and is back with quite a stacked roster. The squad benefits from the return of five Olympians, Regina Alferez, Fernanda Arellano, Itzamary Gonzalez, Joana Jimenez and Pamela Toscano, as well as Olympic reserve and World Championship finalist Glenda Inzunza.
The nation is also set to unveil a new senior duet pairing, as Fernanda Arellano and Itzamary Gonzalez reunite after several years. The two were a standout in the junior age group, notably winning gold at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games in that event. Both have been key members of the team routines since, while Gonzalez ventured in the mixed duet as well, earning silver at the 2023 World Championships.
All eyes will also be on Diego Villalobos, who returns after a phenomenal 2024 season where he picked up three World Junior titles in Lima, and two bronze medals at the Doha World Championships. He will notably feature for the first time at the senior level in the acrobatic team routine, and is listed as a reserve for the free team. Villalobos is also set to compete in solo and mixed duet, pairing with Alferez in the technical routine.
The acrobatic team event should remain Mexico’s most explosive and impressive event, with two of its three Olympic fliers returning. The Mexican junior team is also entered in the technical event, with a junior duet slated to compete as well.
Team Australia will also make its post-Olympic debuts here in Markham. Paris Olympians Georgia Courage-Gardiner, Margo Joseph-Kuo, and Zoe Poulis are back in the water, alongside Olympic reserve Natalia Caloiero. The Australians are entered in the technical and acrobatic team events, and Poulis will also swim solo.
In terms of Olympic duets, both Austria and South Korea are entering their first competitions since the Games, and both have undergone head coaching changes since.
Austria is now under the direction of Japanese coach Nakajima Takako, who took over in February. The nation continues to be represented by the Alexandri triplets, and this will be the first outing for the duet of Anna-Maria and Eirini since their narrow miss at an Olympic medal in Paris. Their sister Vasiliki, reigning two-time European Champion in solo, is also slated to make her first competitive appearance since earning these two titles last June.
South Korea is led by Kim Hyomi and newly-appointed Petra Árkovics. Unlike Austria, the nation has undergone roster changes, as Olympian Hur Yoonseo is now paired with Kim Jihye following the departure of Lee Riyoung to the Cirque du Soleil show “O”.
Kim is however no stranger to the international stage. On the national team since 2019, she has competed in the 2019 and 2023 World Championships, most notably placing 10th in both mixed duet events there.
The two will swim a new technical routine set to the theme of “White Tigers,” known as a powerful and mysterious guardian of Korea. This will also be the first time the national team is competing on an international stage with music not selected from existing soundtracks, but rather using compositions specifically created for this program.
“I am excited to showcase the newly assembled athletes for the first time after the Paris Olympics,” coach Kim Hyomi said. “I hope this program will promote Korean culture and contribute to the growing recognition of artistic swimming in the country through the competition results.”
Besides the duet, Hur will also reappear in the solo event, where she excelled in the younger age groups, but which she hasn’t swum since 2023 due to her focus on the Olympic duet.
The U.S. is set to make its first appearance of the season in the free team event, and will unveil a new choreography there. The Americans will also see the season debut of three-time Olympian Anita Alvarez, who had missed the first World Cup leg as she focused on basic military training.
Meanwhile, Canada, swimming at home, will showcase a new acrobatic routine, undoubtedly hoping to thrill the local crowd with some fresh innovation.
In contrast, Spain will give a final performance of its acrobatic routine, the choreography that secured the Olympic bronze in Paris, as explained by head coach Andrea Fuentes. As this will be the last time we see this routine in competition, don’t miss the chance to enjoy it one final time. The Spaniards will then work on a new choreography for the European Championships.
Much like Spain, Japan has been a steadfast presence on the World Cup circuit this season, adding in more events as the season advances. This time, fans will get to see the return of Higa Moe in solo. The 17-year-old, who swept all junior and youth solo world titles in 2022, is back in the event where she first made her name before being catapulted to the senior squad and shifting focus to the team and duet events.
Finally, Chile is set for its season debut in Markham, a key stepping stone as the squad gears up for the upcoming Pan American Championships in a few weeks.
The competition starts tomorrow at 1:00 pm local, with the women’s technical solo event. Follow the event at this link.
ARTICLE BY CHRISTINA MARMET
Photo: Antoine Saito / World Aquatics
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