Olympian Blake Pieroni will race at all seven stops of the 2018 FINA World Cup Series, a representative has confirmed to SwimSwam.
Pieroni, who graduated last year from the University of Indiana, is currently in Kazan, Russia, at the first stop. He has received travel funding from FINA to go to all seven locations, which are separated into three clusters.
Following Kazan in the first cluster, swimmers will head to Doha, Qatar from September 13th to the 15th. The first two stops are the only ones being swum long course, and the rest will be short course meters.
The second cluster will pick up about two weeks later, with the first location yet to be determined from September 28-30. Next will come Budapest, the host of the 2017 World Championships, from October 4-6.
The third cluster will tour through Asia with stops in Beijing, Tokyo and Singapore throughout the first two weeks in November.
Pieroni, 22, won the 100 free at the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships this summer, and was the runner-up in the 200. He went on to win the B-finals of those events at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships. Over the past few years, he’s been a member of multiple international gold medal-winning relays, including at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2017 FINA World Championships.
Pieroni joins Michael Andrew as the only Americans confirmed for all seven stops, and Russian Kirill Prigoda has also announced he’ll do so. The United States’ Tom Shields is also racing in Kazan, though hasn’t indicated if he’ll continue through the full series.
FULL FINA WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
- September 7-9, Kazan, Russia (50m)
- September 13-15, Doha, Qatar (50m)
- September 28-30, Eindhoven, Netherlands (25m)
- October 4-6, Budapest, Hungary (25m)
- November 2-4, Beijing, China (25m)
- November 9-11, Tokyo, Japan (25m)
- November 15-17, Singapore (25m)
Can someone please explain how FINA travel funding works?
It seems surprising that there are so few Americans, and especially no USA women at these series. World Cup provides an opportunity to get to race some of the top international swimmers. As I recall, Tom Shields earned significant prize money in years past at this series. Seems to me that some of the top USA swimmers are missing a great shot at making prize money, gaining exposure and getting to race some international superstars. Can someone comment on why USA has so few swimmers at this series?
I hope he’s in form, if so it’s g9ing ti be interesting to see how a 1:29 200 y free coverts in meters.
Nance – we haven’t caught wind of any American women committing to the series, but we’ll keep our ears to the ground and be sure to report it if they do.
(If any American women are committing to all or parts of the series and want to share the news, you’re always welcome to email share@SwimSwam.com with the tip!).
Can you explain what this travel funding is about? I went on FINA website but do not see it anywhere. I have heard that big name swimmers often have their expenses covered when racing on the World Cup Series. Thanks
He wasn’t allowed on the team cause his piano was too big to fit through the jet bridge
Shields was a no show today in 100 fly so he probably isn’t in Kazan?!?
Too expensive to take the piano to Kazan