Sochi 2014 Congratulates Gold Medalists in Melbourne

Sochi, Russia, March 23rd, 2007 – As the first week of FINA World Swimming Championships comes to a close Russia has once again proven it is one of the world’s leading sports nations, currently on top of the medal tally.

Russia has stamped their supremacy on the sport of synchronised swimming, earning gold in four out of the six finals staged so far. Also dominating the Open Water events with wins in the 5km Women's, 10km Women's and 10km Men's.

Russians are causing a serious splash. In a display of skill, Maria Gromova, Natalia Ischenko, Elvira Khasyanova, Olga Kuzhela, Anna Nasekina, Elena Ovchinnikova, Svetlana Romashina and Anna Shorina won the nation's fourth gold medal with a near-perfect 99.000 points in the synchronised swimming Team Technical final.

Sochi 2014 Bid CEO, Dmitry Chernyshenko says: “We are extremely proud of the Russian team's performance in Australia. Russia is a country passionate about sports, and successful in both summer and winter disciplines. The proposed Sochi 2014 plan would serve to facilitate such success by Russian winter athletes through the provision of world-class training and competition facilities within their own country for the first time in Russia's history.

It is our goal to provide inspiration to all athletes, both Russian and International, elite-level and amateur, a feat we are confident we will achieve should Sochi 2014 win the honour of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”

The 12th FINA World Swimming Championships competition will run until Sunday, April 1st, 2007. Organised by FINA, the International Swimming Federation, the event is taking place across three sites in Melbourne - the Rod Laver Arena, the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) and the St. Kilda Beach.