Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Andrea Minisini, a pioneering multiple World and European gold medallist, took on ambassadorial and coaching roles after retiring in 2024. At the Budapest 2026 World Junior Artistic Swimming Championships, he conducted masterclass clinics and presented medals at the Duna Arena. Minisini also introduced a new competitive format he developed, the Acrobatic Showdown, where two teams simultaneously perform three acrobatic movements to the same music. He noted positive reactions from athletes and audiences alike.
Minisini highlighted that the new Artistic Impression scoring system for Male Solos is helping athletes improve their skills, while judges increasingly reward well-crafted and performed choreographies. He emphasized the balance between technical skill and artistic sensibility displayed by the new generation of swimmers.
Russia claimed nine of the 11 disciplines, with Anna-Mariia Fomicheva and Aleksandra Zavialova each winning four golds, along with other medals as part of Russia's triple crown team victories. Spain also performed strongly, with emerging talents who could contend at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. According to Minisini, the Spanish team stands out by focusing more on impactful performance rather than high technicality and choreography, adding unpredictability to the women's competition.
Among male athletes, Russia's Zakhar Tromimov secured the most gold medals, with victories in both individual disciplines.