France’s 14-year-old Macéo Vanhee-Dedieu, son of three-times world champion Virginie Dedieu, won his first global medals at the World Aquatics Youth Artistic Swimming Championships in Athens, earning two golds and a bronze.

After victory in the men’s solo free event, Vanhee-Dedieu – who won the same event in the Greek capital last year on his international debut at the  European Aquatics Youth Artistic Swimming Championships – told World Aquatics: “I dedicate this to my mum because I did this routine with her.”

The ‘warriors’ themed performance earned him a massive 27.9505 points lead over his nearest challenger, Xavier Wang of the United States.

His mother, with whom he performed as part of a demonstration event at the Paris World Cup earlier this year, won 17 major medals in her career including three world and two European golds and women’s duet bronze at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

When asked if he looked up to her as an athlete, Vanhee-Dedieu admitted that of course he did “a little bit,” but emphasised that she was “my mum first and I love her for that.”

Vanhee-Dedieu also partnered Carla Pusta to gold in the mixed duet free, where Spain’s Olivia Bofill Morales and Abril Caballero finished fourth, and featured in the French line-up that finished third in the team free event.

Pusta and Gabrielle Bassou, fourth in the women’s duet free, also won team free bronze, as did 12-year-old Jeanne Rougerie.

Italy’s Giulia Ottonello and Martina Pizio finished one place above the French pair in the women’s duet free, and Turkiye’s Selin Hurmeric earned silver in the women’s solo free.

“It was my dream to win a world medal and I am so happy I achieved it,” Hurmeric said.

Silver also went to Spain in the mixed team free combination.

France lifted the overall Team Trophy ahead of China and the United States of America.

The most successful team in terms of medals were the neutral athletes.

Aleksandra Pishchikova was their stand-out performer, winning gold in the women’s solo free and duet free events, partnering Varvara Babashova in the latter.

Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics