Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe

Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe made history by winning Great Britain's first-ever Olympic medal in artistic swimming, securing a silver in the duet event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The duo, childhood friends and two-time World Championship medallists, executed a stunning free routine to score 294.5085, leading to a combined total of 558.5367 points. Their performance followed a strong technical routine where they finished fourth, just shy of the podium before their final act. The Chinese pair of Liuyi Wang and Qianyi Wang took gold, while the Netherlands' Bregje and Noortje de Brouwer earned bronze. This achievement marks a significant milestone as artistic swimming has historically been overlooked in Britain. Shortman, who studies at the University of Bath, and Thorpe's dedication and collaborative bond were highlighted as key factors in their success.