Russian duo retain synchronized swimming title

  2008-08-20 08:44:50 GMT    2008-08-20 16:44:50 (Beijing Time)    Xinhua

Russian duo retain synchronized swimming title

Anastasia Davydova and Anastasia Ermakova of Russia compete in the final of the duet free routine of the synchronized swimming during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Aquatic Center, or the Water Cube, in Beijing, China, Aug. 20, 2008. Anastasia Davydova and Anastasia Ermakova of Russia won the gold medal. (Xinhua Photo)

Russian duo retain synchronized swimming title

Anastasia Davydova and Anastasia Ermakova of Russia compete in the final of the duet free routine of the synchronized swimming during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Aquatic Center, or the Water Cube, in Beijing, China, Aug. 20, 2008. Anastasia Davydova and Anastasia Ermakova of Russia won the gold medal. (Xinhua Photo)

  BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russian synchronized swimmers Anastasia Davydova and Anastasia Ermakova retained the Olympic duet title with a near-perfect performance at the Water Cube here on Wednesday.

  The Russian pair scissor-kicked their way to a lively piece of Norwegian play music in the duet free routine final, scoring eight full 10 marks and two 9.9 points. They carried a top score of 49.334 points from Monday's technical routine to total 99.251 points.

  Spanish veteran Gemma Mengual and Andrea Fuentes won the silver with 98.334 points, and Japanese duo Saho Harada and Emiko Suzuki took the bronze with 97.167 points. Chinese twins Jiang Tingting and Jiang Wenwen finished fourth with 96.334 points.