Spain’s Iris Tio and Dennis Gonzalez, who earned world and European gold last season in the mixed duet free, today received their respective trophies at the Olympic Aquatic Centre for being voted Best Women’s and Best Men’s Artistic Swimmer of 2025.
The presentations were made by former artistic swimmers Emma Garcia, vice-chair of the European Aquatics Athletes Committee, and Athletes Committee member Renaud Barral,
Tio Casas, who secured 41.29% of the total vote, combined stand-out individual success with decisive contributions to Spain’s team performances on the world stage.
The 23-year-old from Barcelona enjoyed a remarkable World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where she amassed three golds and three bronzes. Her campaign included a landmark first individual world gold in the solo free routine, bronze medals in the solo technical and team free events, and further podium finishes in team competitions.
Tio Casas carried that form from the European Championships in Funchal, where she claimed three continental golds, two silvers and a bronze, and added major titles in the duet free alongside 18-year-old Lilou Lluis Valette and in the mixed duet free with González, who secured more than half – 51.79% – of the voting share.
The 21-year-old played a key part in his country’s success at the World Aquatics Championships, where they won nine medals – more than any other nation – and finished third overall.
Gonzalez won gold in the mixed duet free routine, partnering Tio, and silvers in the solo technical routine and the mixed duet technical routine, where he worked with Mireia Hernandez.
He was also a ground-breaking performer in team competition, having become the first man to represent Spain in these events when he participated at the World Cup in Somabay in April, helping the squad to earn gold.
Men were given the opportunity to compete in Olympic artistic swimming when rule changes allowed two per squad at the Paris 2024 Games. In the event, no country entered a male competitor – but Gonzalez is pioneering a route that he hopes will lead him to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
At the World Aquatics Championships he helped Spain earn bronze in the acrobatic and free routines.
He had performed the same role for Spain at the European Aquatics Artistic Swimming Championships in Funchal, Madeira, taking team free gold and acrobatic routine bronze.
Gonzalez also earned gold in the mixed duet free with Tio Casas and the mixed duet technical with Hernandez as well as taking solo technical bronze.
Earlier in the season the Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final in Xi’an, China had offered Gonzalez the ideal opportunity to test his new partnership with Tio as they won the mixed duet free title, and he also secured gold in the mixed duet technical routine partnering Hernandez.
Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics
.
