Anna-Maria and Irini Alexandri won gold in the technical duet program at the 38th European Aquatics Championships, which opened July 31 in Paris, marking a triumphant return to competition representing Greece after 14 years.
The sisters scored 311.4308 points to take the top spot on the podium. It is the fourth European title of their careers, though the three previous titles came while they competed representing Austria. This was their first gold at a European Aquatics Championship specifically, as their earlier wins came at the 2023 European Games and at a standalone European Artistic Swimming championship held in Portugal the previous year.
Maiya Doroshko and Elizaveta Minaeva of Russia, competing as neutral athletes, finished second with 302.9950 points. Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe of Great Britain took bronze with 297.9108 points.
Top-8 Results, Technical Duet
- 1. Anna-Maria Alexandri / Irini Alexandri (Greece) , 311.4308
- 2. Doroshko / Minaeva (Neutral/Russia) , 302.9950
- 3. Shortman / Thorpe (Great Britain) , 297.9108
- 4. Alave / Linel (France) , 294.6549
- 5. Piccoli / Ruggiero (Italy) , 290.4416
- 6. Bleger / Denisov (Germany) , 284.9774
- 7. Dabravoskaya / Mirontchik (Neutral/Belarus) , 275.7825
- 8. Lluis Valete / Tio Casas (Spain) , 274.0117
The result is Greece’s second gold in artistic swimming in the history of the European Championships. The first came two years ago in Belgrade in the free team event. Overall, it is the country’s 14th gold across the full history of the championships.
What’s Next for the Alexandris
Anna-Maria and Irini are scheduled to return to the Olympic Aquatic Center pool on August 1 at 17:50 for the free duet final, having qualified with the second-best score in the preliminary round held on the same day as the technical event.
The sisters’ triplet sibling, Vasiliki Alexandri, will also be in action on August 1, competing in the solo free program qualifier at 10:00.
Greece has further representation in diving, with Theophilos Avthinos entering the 1m springboard qualifier at 13:00. Thirty-one athletes are set to compete, with the top 12 advancing to the evening final.
