The opening day of the swimming world championships could have doubled for a Trojan Swim Club meet, according to AP. American swimmer Haley Anderson, a recent graduate of the University of Southern California, won the first gold medal of the championships in the 5-kilometer open water and USC-based Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia quickly followed by taking the men's event. "It's a great job for the Trojans today," Mellouli said, thanking his American coaches Catherine Vogt, Jon Urbanchek and Dave Salo. "It's an awesome group." Meanwhile, China's Wu Minxia and Shi Tingmao won the first diving gold medal, earning Wu a record sixth world title in the women's 3-meter synchronized springboard. The pair's almost flawless execution of all five dives framed by the dramatic backdrop of Barcelona's skyline gave them the top total score of 338.40 points. Italy's Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallape claimed silver with 307.80, while Canada's Jennifer Abel and Pamela Ware took bronze with 292.08. Wu has won nine world or Olympic gold medals in the 3-meter synchronized springboard. The only major title to escape her was the 2005 world championship when she didn't compete in the event. Medals were also to be handed out in synchronized swimming for the solo technical event. Svetlana Romashina led the prelims, with her standout Russian teammate Natalia Ischenko taking the year off due to pregnancy. Down at Barcelona's harbor, Anderson's victory erased the bitter disappointment of missing selection for her favored event. A silver medalist in last year's 10K Olympic race, Anderson finished only eighth in that event at U.S. trials in May on the same day of her graduation from USC. Her only chance to qualify came down to winning the 5K days later, which she did. Now she has an even bigger title. -- SPA 20:48 LOCAL TIME 17:48 GMT تغريد
