Team USA Wraps Up Markham World Cup with Two Medals and a Show-Stopping Debut
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by USA Artistic Swimming, Kennedy Shriver
The Markham stop of the World Cup concluded on Sunday, with Team USA heading home proudly with two medals from the three disciplines they competed in over the weekend in Canada.
The competition kicked off on Thursday with the team performing their Peacock-themed Technical Routine, earning a bronze medal behind Japan and Spain. Since their last performance of this routine in February, Team USA increased their declared difficulty by 2.5 points and improved their execution score by nearly 10 points—culminating in a final score of 266.6599 in Markham.
The highlight of the event was the much-anticipated debut of Team USA’s new Team Free routine, which had generated buzz on social media and pool decks alike. The moment the team stepped onto the stage, their theme—THE BODY—was instantly clear. Their striking suits, designed to display elements of human anatomy, made the concept immediately recognizable and visually compelling. Developed and refined right up to the final days before competition, the routine merged the artistic beauty of the sport with the complexity of the human form, featuring captivating representations of the ribcage, lungs, brain, nervous system, and more.
The debut performance earned Team USA a bronze medal with a score of 291.1363 in the Team Free category, notably surpassing Japan—the silver medalists—in artistic impression.
The competition concluded with USA’s updated “Sorceresses” Acrobatic Routine on Sunday. Designed to showcase high-difficulty elements and push scoring potential, the routine aimed high. Unfortunately, two element failures during the final swim resulted in a fifth-place finish.
While the lower placement was a disappointment for the coaching staff, they viewed it as a valuable learning experience—one that will drive necessary adjustments and fuel a stronger comeback.
With a few months to rest and regroup, Team USA now sets its sights on their next major challenge: the 2025 World Championships in Singapore.
