Duet, Women

Due to the Russian duet not being allowed to participate in the Olympic Games, the competition was wide open. China was favored for gold, having won silver in 2016 and 2020, but predicting the silver and bronze medals was difficult.

Two sets of medals are awarded in each event at the World Championships, and one at the Olympic Games. The duet from China predictably took first place in the technical routine, but Austria’s second place was a surprise. The Austrian duo did not compete at the 2024 World Championships, and they finished fifth at the 2023 Worlds in Fukuoka. No less unexpected was the third place of the Netherlands, whose only medal at the World Championships had come earlier in 2024, in the duet free routine, with silver.

In the free routine, although having a big advantage, more than 9.5 points, the duet from China made a number of mistakes, but held on for the gold medal. The duos from Great Britain and the Netherlands performed consistently, which allowed them to win the silver and bronze medals, respectively.