Russia's Natalia Ishchenko secured a double title haul by winning the synchronized swimming solo free gold medal at the World Championships here on Thursday. However, her victory was marred by a claim of poor judging from her defeated rival. Ishchenko had already retained her solo technical title on Monday and once again beat Spain's Gemma Mengual into second position by just half a point, scoring 98.833 to the Spaniard's 98.333. Italy's Beatrice Adelizzi delighted the home crowd by snatching the bronze medal with 95.500 to pip Canada's Chloe Isaac (95.000). However, afterwards Mengual complained that she had been robbed by the judges. Ischenko performed her routine to Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, a popular choice among synchronized swimmers as China's free combination team also picked that piece on Wednesday. Mengual opted for a version of the Beatles's ‘Yesterday' sung by Ray Charles in a blues style but there was no repeat of Wednesday's success for the Spaniard. Having finally won her first World Championship gold medal in the team free combination on Wednesday – having previously won 15 silver and bronze medals - the Spanish swimmer could not repeat that success and once again settled for silver behind her nemesis Ishchenko. Bronze for Crippen American Francis Crippen was on Thursday confirmed as the bronze medalist from Wednesday's men's 10km open water competition. An official announcement of the result was held over after Italy - whose swimmer Valerio Cleri finished fourth - protested against the result. The World Swimming Federation (FINA) upheld the Italian appeal but the Americans made a counter appeal, delaying any official result until after Thursday's FINA meeting. But a US team spokesperson confirmed that they had been told officially by FINA that Crippen would keep his bronze medal, despite the giverning body not yet publishing their decision. He adds gold Olympic champion He Chong held his nerve on his final dive to take the 3-meter springboard gold. Although he did not execute a perfect dive, it was just enough to push American Troy Dumais and Canadian Alexandre Despatie into second and third respectively.
