Hosszu rockets to #2 in Grand Prix points standings after her first U.S. appearance

The official rules of the U.S. Grand Prix series limited Hungarian sensation Katinka Hosszu to just a 7-event lineup in Orlando, a light load compared to her usual weekends.

Still, it was enough to rocket Hosszu to 2nd on the Grand Prix points standings list, despite the fact that she didn’t compete at either of the series’ first two stops.

Hosszu scored 27 points over the weekend, winning 4 races, taking second twice and claiming third once. She now sits just half a point back of leader Megan Romano, who has led the standings the entire way.

A quick refresher: the Grand Prix series doles out prize money to the top 3 finishers in each event. The winner takes $500, second place $300 and third $100. In addition, athletes earn points for a running total throughout the circuit’s six stops, with the high-point winner on the men’s and women’s sides receiving a yearlong lease of a brand-new BMW. The points correlate with the prize money – 5 for first, 3 for second, 1 for third, so the points standings also double as a “top money-earners” list.

Of course, not all athletes will accept the prize money. Current college athletes or those who plan to swim there later in their careers will forgo their earnings to maintain eligibility under NCAA rules. Therefore this list is for money earned, not neccessarily money recieved.

Hosszu put up easily the best weekend points- and money-wise that we’ve seen this season. She brought in $2700. The best single-meet haul previously was Frenchman Yannick Agnel‘s $1800 performance in Austin.

Though they both sit near the top of the standings, neither of those two will be eligible for the car lease itself. Grand Prix rules limit the BMW prize to U.S. swimmers only, so if a foreign athlete finishes atop the standings, the lease will go to the highest eligible athlete.

Agnel still sits tied with NBAC teammate Conor Dwyer for the men’s lead, despite neither man swimming in Orlando. Their 27 points lead a pair of men who put up big weekends: Arkady Vyatchanin and Michael McBroom. Those two are both tied for third place with 22.

Closing in behind Romano and Hosszu for the women is Caitlin Leverenz, who’s been a steady presence on the series so far. This was her lowest-scoring weekend (just 4 points), but she still sits at 25 total, just two-and-a-half back.

Women’s Top 10

1. Megan Romano                 27.5

2. Katinka Hosszu               27

3. Caitlin Leverenz             25

4. Audrey Lacroix               14

5. Hilary Caldwell             13

5. Katie Ledecky                13

5. Kiera Janzen                 13

5. Kierra Smith                 13

9. Chloe Sutton                 12

9. Laura Sogar                  12

Men’s Top 10

1. Conor Dwyer             27

1. Yannick Agnel            27

3. Arkady Vyatchanin        22

3. Michael McBroom          22

5. Cesar Cielo             21

6. David Verraszto          15

7. BJ Johnson              13

8. Adam Brown               11.5

9. Mike Alexandrov          10

9. Nathan Adrian            10

9. Ross Murdoch             10

9. Tom Luchsinger           10

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mcgillrocks
10 years ago

I feel like I may be overlooking something, but I have to wonder: how are these meets really financially viable? If the most prolific racer in the world can only come out with $2700 then how do people make money doing these meets?

How would this meet be in any way financially successful for Michael Andrew, who probably travelled to the meet for 2000 bucks and came away with something like $150? Is there some kind of appearance or sponsorship money that makes people participate or is the allure of racing at semi-major meets enough to keep high-level swimmers coming again and again despite financial losses?

Admin
Reply to  mcgillrocks
10 years ago

mcgillrocks – yes, lots of sponsorship appearance fees will include money for these meets. National Team athletes get their travel costs covered at different levels, so that helps for those cases.

FanOfThe Sport
Reply to  Braden Keith
10 years ago

Braden – That would make a really interesting article – the economics of the sport at the higher level. What is subsidized? What is sponsored? What sorts of income is being used to sustain competitors at the highest levels? Obviously, every swimmer’s situation is going to be unique, but for some of us, getting an idea as to the financial balance sheet involved in the sport would be very interesting.

Swimfan2
Reply to  mcgillrocks
10 years ago

You must finish 1 – 2 – 3 to be in the money at a Grand Prix Meet; 1st pays $500/ 2 pays $300 and Third pays $100. This is the only way to score points as well, this is for the race to the BMW lease. So Michael Andrews has not made any money this weekend as near as I can tell, unless he was on a relay that placed top 3; and I’m not sure those pay any prize money or points.

PsychoDad
10 years ago

Are foreigners who come to USA Grand Prix meets eligible for drug testing? She scares me.

YouGotLezakd
Reply to  PsychoDad
10 years ago

Really? You just had to say that?

TJ
Reply to  PsychoDad
10 years ago

Her breaststroke technique scares you?

YouGotLezakd
Reply to  TJ
10 years ago

🙂

Justsayin'
Reply to  PsychoDad
10 years ago

PsychoDad —
You’re right, it’s hard to see that picture and not…..have thoughts.

bobo gigi
10 years ago

Miss Romano can be a little worried in my opinion.
Hosszu starts probably to be interested in the car.
I think you can already give her the keys.

Admin
Reply to  bobo gigi
10 years ago

I wonder if Hosszu would even accept the car. She’s got a sponsorship with Audi, I believe.

sven
Reply to  Braden Keith
10 years ago

The car is a non-issue for Hosszu since she isn’t a U.S. swimmer, right?

Admin
Reply to  sven
10 years ago

sven – yes, I guess you’re correct, as the car can only be own by a U.S. Citizen. However, she is now married to an American citizen, so depending on how fast she wanted to push through paperwork, she could become a U.S. citizen. She would have to have a U.S. driver’s license and be a USA Swimming member as well (couldn’t answer either of those things with 100% certainty).

The rules don’t state, however, that she has to represent the U.S. just that she has to be a U.S. citizen.

The above hoops may not be worth jumping through given that it’s just a lease and that she’s not based in the U.S. as of now.

bobo gigi
Reply to  Braden Keith
10 years ago

Sorry. I didn’t know that rule.
So Yannick Agnel isn’t eligible either.

korn
Reply to  Braden Keith
10 years ago

I don’t think Yannick even has a driver’s license yet.

Jiggs
Reply to  bobo gigi
10 years ago

Too bad Bobo doesn’t get the car, he’s the most interested in it.

Jiggs
Reply to  Jiggs
10 years ago

You still have to put gas in it Bobo.

haha
10 years ago

brutal!

About Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson swam for nearly twenty years. Then, Jared Anderson stopped swimming and started writing about swimming. He's not sick of swimming yet. Swimming might be sick of him, though. Jared was a YMCA and high school swimmer in northern Minnesota, and spent his college years swimming breaststroke and occasionally pretending …

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