Reigning Olympic champions Russia remained dominant in the Synchronised Swimming but China and Spain have pledged to rival them in the future. The Russian Team held on to their Olympic title with a score of 197.030 – three points clear of silver medallists China, and nearly four above bronze medallists Spain. They have won gold at every World Championships since 1998 and seem to be almost unbeatable, with Natalia Ishchenko and Svetlana Romashina sealing the Duets title for Russa too. China’s Jiang Wenwen said: ‘The Russians’ performance was almost perfect. They are idols for us, they are models for us to learn. Perhaps in the future we can catch up little by little and close the gap.’ Alba Cabello Rodilla from the Spanish team said beating the gold medallists was ‘not impossible’.