Text: Thiago Minete

Trying to overcome rivals who have won every Olympic gold medal since Sydney 2000 is not an easy task. Now imagine doing it at 39, having coming out of retirement for the second time after having two children. This is the challenge facing Gemma Mengual, the Spanish synchronised swimming star, who has returned to the pool for her fourth Olympic Games.

“Many people say to me, ‘You’re crazy!’ Yes, I am. But it’s something that I think I can do, and I want to”

Gemma Mengual, two-time Olympic silver medallist

In Rio de Janeiro to compete in the Olympic Qualification Tournament, which is also the Rio 2016 test event for the sport, Mengual is trying to earn a place for Spain in the Olympic duets event alongside Ona Carbonell. The 25-year-old, known as the ‘Mermaid of Barcelona’, is Spain's most succesful synchronised swimmer, having won duet and team silver at London 2012 and a hatful of world championships medals. Combined with Mengual, who who will be 39 next month and also has duet and team Olympic silver medals (from Beijing 2008), the pair will be difficult to stop.

Spain, Ukraine and Japan lead chase for final synchronised swimming places at Rio 2016

The Spanish pair started well: on the first day of competition on Wednesday (2 March) at the renovated Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre, they obtained the highest mark among the 27 duets who performed technical routines. (See the start of their performance in the video below).

Comenzó el evento teste de #NadoSincronizado #AqueceRio
Turno de #España con @onacarbonell y @gemmamengualciv pic.twitter.com/No62CZkTjS

— Rio 2016 (@rio2016_es) 2 marzo 2016

Carbonell revealed that the duo has developed a deep understanding over the years, saying: “I have known Gemma for 15 years and I have swum with her for 10.” In fact, they once had pupil-master relationship: After retiring in 2012, Mengual became a coach for the national side, with Carbonell under her tutelage. “It’s not so strange,” said Carbonell, smiling.

Become a synchronised swimming expert with our interactive infographic

Mengual had already taken a break from the sport between 2009 and 2011 when she had her first son, Nil. In 2013, her second son, Joe, was born. While the personal life of the athlete has undergone change, little has altered in the panorama of the sport during this time: Russia have continued to dominate synchronised swimming, claiming every Olympic gold over the last 16 years, with China hot on their heels.

“Russia and China will be on the podium, for sure. We have a lot of work to do to beat them, but we’re going to do our best”

Gemma Mengual

Having already qualified for Rio 2016, the two top nations did not send representatives to this week’s tournament. Even so, they are not out of the minds of the competitors at the Maria Lenk, who constantly think about how to beat the favourites. For Mengual and Carbonell, the ploy is to try something different. For this reason, they have brought to Rio a choreography based on the flamenco, a typical Spanish dance.

“We are doing different choreographies, we think that’s the best way. The style of Russia and China is very good, if we did the same thing it would be more difficult”

Gemma Mengual

Mengual (right) Carbonell topped the scoreboard on day one at the Maria Lenk (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

                    

The pair can book a place in the Rio 2016 Games on Thursday (3 March), when the duets will perform their free routines. With free entry for the public, the event lasts until Sunday (6 March) and is the last chance to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Having already been to Brazil, on their free day after competition Carbonell is “less interested in the monuments, more by the normal life of the people here and in breathing in the Olympic atmosphere”. But Mengual knows exactly what she wants to do: “I want to go to Copacabana and drink a caipirinha.”

The Olympic qualifier is being broadcast live on FINA’s YouTube channel. Click here to see the full competition schedule.

Follow the race to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
 

Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.