Russian team claims gold in synchronized swimming again

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) After swimming for almost two hours in open water, Olympic champion Ferry Weertman edged defending champion Jordan Wilimovsky by one

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) After swimming for almost two hours in open water, Olympic champion Ferry Weertman edged defending champion Jordan Wilimovsky by one tenth of a second for the 10-kilometer title at the world championships on Tuesday.

Weertman earned the Netherlands' first medal of the championships, on Lake Balaton, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Budapest.

''I just love swimming ... I haven't stopped for a moment, and this hard work paid off,'' said the 25-year-old Weertman, who began swimming at age 6 because his brother made it look like fun.

Wilimovsky had no regrets, despite the closest of finishes.

''I cannot complain about my swim. I tried everything I could. There are plenty of very good swimmers in the 10k, so the silver medal is all right,'' the American said.

Marc-Antoine Olivier of France, who won the 5K on Saturday, was 0.70 seconds behind for bronze. He became the first Frenchman to win more than one medal in open water swimming at the worlds.

Neither Weertman nor Wilimovsky raced the 5K.

In Budapest, Matthieu Rosset and Laura Marino won the mixed 3-meter and 10-meter team event for France's first medal in any diving competition at a worlds.

''It's a great thing,'' said Rosset, who finished with a forward 2-1/2 somersaults 2 twists pike to snatch the gold from Mexico's Rommel Pacheco Marrufo and Viviana del Angel Peniche by 4.05 points.

''It's good to show the (French) federation that diving can bring medals,'' Marino said. ''It's not just open water swimming - there is diving too!''

Mexico had been leading from the third round but there was no immediate disappointment from the silver medalists.

''It's my seventh world championships and my second medal,'' Pacheco said. ''I'm very happy.''

Krysta Palmer and David Dinsmore of the United States claimed the bronze.

The 25-year-old Palmer claimed a surprising medal in her first international meet.

Knee injuries forced her to switch from gymnastics and trampoline to diving at age 20, and she hopes it leads all the way to Tokyo in 2020.

''It's always been (the goal to make) the Olympics,'' Palmer said. ''To be in diving now and know this is only the beginning is really cool.''

Earlier, Russia won its sixth straight women's team technical synchronized swimming title for its fourth gold medal of the championships.

The team of Maria Shurochkina, Vlada Chigireva, Veronika Kalinina, Daria Bayandina, Anastasia Bayandina, Maryna Goliadkina, Darina Valitova, and Polina Komar performed last and maintained the team's unbeaten record in the event with 96.0109 points.

''There is no limit to perfection,'' said Chigireva, one of only two swimmers alongside Shurochkina left from the team that won Olympic gold in 2016.

Shurochkina said the new members ''took the challenge and they really mingled with us, they are now part of the team.''

Chinese swimmers Wang Qianyi, Wang Liuyi, Guo Li, Xiao Yanning, Tang Mengni, Feng Yu, Liang Xinping and Yin Chengxin claimed silver with 94.2165, followed by Japan on 93.1690 for its first medal of the championships.

Chigireva and Shurochkina equaled Daria Korobova's three gold medals in this event. Only Russian compatriots Aleksandra Patskevich, Alla Shishkina and Angelika Timanina have more with four.

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AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry contributed to this report.