2016 Flanders Speedo Cup – Antwerp
- Dates: Saturday, January 23rd-Sunday, January 24th
- Prelims 8:30 am (2:30 am EST/11:30 pm PST); Finals – Saturday – 4:00 pm (10:00 am EST/7:00 am PST) – Sunday – 3:00 pm (9:00 am EST/6:00 am PST)
- Program
- Saturday Heat Sheet
- Sunday Heat Sheet
- Event Page
In the past the Flanders Speedo Cup hosted several of the world’s top swimmers from many nations across Europe such as Laszlo Cseh (HUN), Daniel Gyurta HUN), Stefan Nystrand (SWE), Alena Popchanka (FRA), Keri-Anne Payne (GBR), Lotte Friis (DEN), Aschwin Wildeboer (ESP), Evgenyny Korotyshkin (RUS), Jeanette Ottesen (DEN) and Zsuzsanna Jakobos (HUN). This year the line up is much thinner than in the past with the most notable names coming from the British National Team.
On the men’s side 2015 World Championships gold and silver medalist James Guy will be swimming both of those freestyle events and will be a heavy favourite as his toughest competition looks to be British teammate Nicholas Grainger. Unfortunately the breaststroke events will not include either Adam Peaty or Ross Murdoch, but Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Andrew Willis is the top seed in the men’s 200 breaststroke.
The race for the top spot in the men’s sprint backstroke events will most likely be between 50 backstroke world record holder Liam Tancock of Great Britain and Jonatan Kopetev of Israel. Max Litchfield will have the best chance to stand on the top of podium in the men’s 200 and 400 IM.
The women’s events will be highlighted by the presence of multiple Commonwealth Games double gold medalist Fran Halsall who will be vying for gold in the 50 and 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Lauren Quigley will challenge Halsall in the 50 and 100 freestyle and will also go head to head with Georgia Davies in both the 50 and 100 backstroke. Aimee Willmott goes in as the top seed in the 200 and 400 IM and 200 butterfly.
