Chinese twin sisters Jiang Wenwen and Jiang Tingting shocked their strongest rivals at the 15 th Asian Games by claiming gold in the duet competition on December 8. Performing as the Goddess of the Wind, the 23-year-old Chinese showed a perfect free routine, totaling in 96.584 points to edge out the Japanese duo Saho Harada/Emiko Suzuki at 96.501.

Wenwen and Tingting had been pool mates to athletes of the Olympium Synchro Swim Club for a number of months while training in Canada at the Etobicoke Olympium under the direction of renowned Synchro Coach Sheilagh Croxon.

With their victory, the Chinese twins have stopped
Japan 's long unbeaten run at the Asian Games and have claimed the first ever Gold Medal for China in synchronized swimming. Prior to 2006, Japan had won every gold medal in the sport since it was first introduced to the Games on their home turf in Hiroshima in 1994.

Following the duet free routine final, the twins showed off their gold medals and were greeted by enthusiasts at the Doha Asiad, Qatar .

"We are satisfied with our performance. We performed more relaxed and focused in the free routine compared with the technical round in the morning" Jiang Wenwen said. "We are very, very happy!" added Jiang Tingting. Source: Xinhua

OSSC is delighted that the team with a Canadian connection turned up on top at the 2006 Asian Games and looks forward to Wenwen and Tingting continuing to win the judges' recognition in world-level competitions on their journey to Beijing in 2008.

Congratulations from Canada !