Katinka Hosszu Entered in All 17 Events; Olympic Nice to Race at Indian Ocean Meet

Among the headliners for the 2014 Indian Ocean Meeting (25m) that will resume competition swimming after the Christmas holiday will be Katinka Hosszu, Charlotte Bonnet, Jeremy Stravius, Roland Schoeman, and Darian Townsend, according to the meet’s start lists.

• List of participants here.
• Full meet results available here.

Hosszu, who has been the dominant force at this meet for several years, has 17 events to race over three days of competition:

Day 1

• 200 free
• 50 back
• 200 breast
• 100 fly
• 400 IM

Day 2

• 100 back
• 50 breast
• 200 fly
• 100 IM
• 50 free
• 400 free

Day 3

• 100 breast
• 50 fly
• 200 IM
• 100 free
• 200 back
• 800 free

In short, Hosszu has at least left the door open to swim all 17 individual events in the combined prelims-finals (races 200 meters and shorter)/timed-finals (races 400 meters and longer) meet.

Her husband and coach, Shane Tusup, will also suit-up in three events (the 50 back, the 100 back, and the 50 fly). Tusup is a former swimmer at USC and placed 2nd in the 50 back at this meet last season.

Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean, is a part of France, meaning there will also be a large contingent of French swimmers on combined holiday training trip/competition voyage.

Among the biggest names will be Olympic bronze medalist Charlotte Bonnet (800 free relay) and 2-time Olympic medalist, 7-time World Championship medalist, and 17-time European medalist (including four in 2014), Jeremy Stravius.

Among other swimmers from Nice, Bonnet’s club, will be Anna Santamans (entered in the 50/100/200 free, 50/100 fly, 100 IM), and Hungarian Evelyn Verraszto (50/100/200 back, 100 fly, 100/200 IM).

As might be expected for the island of almost a million inhabitants, located east of Madagascar, many other internationals are taking advantage of the beaches and temperate weather to make the trip for the meet. That includes American Darian Townsend (entered in the 100/200 free and 100/200 IM) and South African Roland Schoeman (50/100 fly, 50/100 breast, 50/100 free).

The meet is being held in the city of Saint-Paul, with prelims beginning at 9:30AM and finals starting at 4:30PM. For home nations of the highest-profile swimmers at this meet, that translates to:

• France – 6:30AM/1:30PM
• Hungary – 6:30AM/1:30PM
• South Africa – 7:30AM/2:30 PM
• United States (East Coast) – 12:30AM/7:30AM