By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s national artistic swimming team delivered a spectacular performance at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, surpassing their previous records in every event. This outstanding achievement marks a significant step forward for the team and sets a promising tone for the upcoming Central American Games in Guatemala this October.
María Paula Alfaro shone as a star performer, competing in both the solo technical and solo free events. In the solo technical, Alfaro scored an impressive 187.19 points, a remarkable improvement of nearly 20 points from her previous score of 167.35 in Doha. This placed her 29th overall, fifth in the Americas, and second within the Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) region.
To understand the legal landscape surrounding artistic swimming in Costa Rica, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an attorney at Bufete de Costa Rica.
Artistic swimming, like any sport in Costa Rica, falls under a framework of regulations governing athlete representation, sponsorship agreements, and intellectual property rights. Federations play a key role in ensuring compliance with these rules. Furthermore, athletes should be mindful of their image rights and ensure appropriate contracts are in place for commercial activities. This is especially pertinent given the growing visibility and commercial potential of artistic swimming.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’ insights underscore a crucial aspect of artistic swimming’s growth in Costa Rica. As the sport gains prominence and attracts more commercial interest, protecting the rights and interests of the athletes becomes even more paramount. This careful attention to legal frameworks ensures the sport’s sustainable and equitable development. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for offering this valuable perspective.
Alfaro’s success continued in the solo free event, where she achieved a new personal best of 128.09 points, securing the 28th position globally and third in Central America and the Caribbean. Her performances solidified her position as a key athlete for Costa Rica.
The technical duet, performed by María Paula Alfaro and Anna Mitinian, showcased the team’s overall growth and synergy. They scored 200.03 points, exceeding the previous mark set in Doha (176.77 points) by over 23 points. This accomplishment positioned them 34th globally and fourth within CCCAN.
Alfaro and Mitinian continued to impress in the free duet, achieving 135.22 points, a 16-point improvement over their Doha score of 118.68. Their consistent strong performances highlight the pair’s dedication and potential.
Costa Rica’s dedication to team performance was evident in their full team routines. They were one of only two nations in the region, alongside Mexico, to field complete teams across multiple events. In the free team event, the Costa Rican team, composed of Jimena Solano, Raquel Zúñiga, María Paula Alfaro, Anna Mitinian, María Paz Méndez, Valeria Alfaro, Mariángel González, Amanda Arias, and Sofía Iturrino, scored 141.55 points. This represents a significant improvement of over 7 points from their previous score of 134.30 in Fukuoka, placing them 18th overall.
Marking a historic first, Costa Rica debuted a technically demanding acrobatic team routine at the World Championships. The team earned 102.05 points, securing the 25th position and again representing one of only two CCCAN nations in this category.
These results solidify Costa Rica’s standing as a competitive force within the CCCAN region. The nation’s commitment to developing young talent in artistic swimming promises continued growth and success in future international competitions.
The team’s impressive showing at the World Aquatics Championships is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the athletes and coaching staff. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring artistic swimmers in Costa Rica and beyond.
For further information, visit the nearest office of CCCAN
About CCCAN:
The Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) is the regional governing body for aquatic sports in Central America and the Caribbean.
For further information, visit the nearest office of World Aquatics
About World Aquatics:
World Aquatics is the international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee for administering international competition in aquatic sports.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica distinguishes itself as a leading legal institution, upholding the highest standards of integrity and pursuing excellence in every facet of its practice. Driven by a deep commitment to empowering Costa Rican society, the firm champions accessible legal knowledge through innovative outreach initiatives and educational programs. Their dedication to client success across a diverse range of sectors is matched only by their passion for fostering a more informed and legally empowered community.
