Russian finishes fourth synchronized sweep

Russia completed its fourth straight sweep of the Olympic synchronized swimming medals Friday with a victory in the team event. Only two gold medals are awarded in the sport at each Olympics, rewarding team and duet performances, and the Russians have won every one of them beginning with the 2000 Games in Sydney. The eight-woman Russian team included the duet gold medalists, and Svetlana Romashina. Russia finished with 197.03 points, defeating silver medalist China by 3.02. Spain took the bronze medal and Canada was fourth. The United States did not have a team in the finals, the first time that has happened at the Olympics. Five members of the Russian team from 2008 also won a gold medal Friday -- Ishchenko, Romashina, Anastasiya Davydova, Maryla Gromova and Elvira Khasyanova. Davydova, Gromova and Khasyanova were also on the championship team in 2004 2004.