Kate Shortman made history at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, as she secured the first ever World Championship medal for Britain in artistic swimming. She won a stunning bronze in the Women’s Free Solo final, scoring 219.9542 points for her performance. She improved on her preliminary round score by six points and was one of the only swimmers not to receive a base mark, which means she executed her routine flawlessly. She said she was “so excited” and “crazy” to achieve this feat, which she had dreamed of since her first World Championships at the age of 15.
Duo and team events also impress
Shortman also teamed up with her long-time partner Izzy Thorpe to finish fifth in the Duet Free final, scoring 226.4834 points. This was the best result from a British female duet in recent history. They also placed eighth in the Duet Technical final, matching their placing from last year’s competition. The duo said they were “really happy” with their results and that they had “worked really hard” to improve their routines.
The British team also performed well in the Team events, finishing sixth in both the Team Free and Team Technical finals. They scored 230.5668 and 228.3668 points respectively, showing their consistency and improvement over the years. The team consisted of Shortman, Thorpe, Daisy Rushton, Millicent Costello, Cerys Larsen, Laura Turberville, Isobel Blinkhorn and Robyn Swatman. They said they were “proud” of their performances and that they had “grown so much as a team”.
Artistic swimming in Britain is on the rise
The historic results from the World Championships show that artistic swimming in Britain is on the rise and that the athletes are aiming for more success in the future. Team leader Karen Thorpe said that the team had “gone above and beyond their expectations” and that they were “right in the mix” with the top nations. She also said that they were “excited” for the road to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where they hope to qualify and compete for medals.
The British artistic swimmers have also received praise and support from other figures in the sport, such as former Olympian Katie Clark, who said she was “so proud” of them and that they had “made a statement” to the world. The sport has also gained more attention and recognition from the media and the public, who have been impressed by the skill and artistry of the athletes.
