McKeown, Qin Run Away With World Cup Titles To Secure Massive Paydays

2023 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP – BUDAPEST

The 2023 World Cup has drawn to a close. As projected, Qin Haiyang and Kaylee McKeown ran away with the World Cup overall crowns, netting a $100,000 prize as well as a $30,000 bonus for completing three Triple Crowns apiece.

McKeown earned 59.7 points in Budapest to bring her total to 177.4 overall, putting an 11-point difference between her and second-place finisher Siobhan Haughey. The 22-year-old backstroke ace also set world records in the 50 and 100 back en route to two of her Triple Crowns, adding $20,000 to her total earnings. That was enough to make her the top earner of the series with $186,000.

Qin added 58.7 in Budapest to bring his total to 175.4 points, 7.5 ahead of runner-up finisher Thomas Ceccon of Italy. Prior to Budapest, Qin’s lead over Ceccon was only 3.9 points, but he nearly doubled that in the series finale. Completing his sweep of the breaststroke events in Budapest, Qin walks away with a total of $166,000, only trailing McKeown.

There was only one change in the men’s top eight rankings after the Budapest stop, with American Kieran Smith leapfrogging Australian Isaac Cooper to take 6th overall in the series.

The women’s rankings had a much more dramatic shakeup. With the absence of Americans Katie Grimes and Torri Huske in Budapest, who were 5th and 8th after Athens, Kylie Masse and Ingrid Wilm moved into the top eight. The race for second was incredibly close, with Haughey surpassing  Zhang Yufei by just 0.2 points in the final standings.

In total, $1,416,000 has been awarded to athletes.

Check out the full prize money breakdown with Budapest alone as well as the combined final standings:

Men – Budapest World Cup Standings/Prize Money

RANK SWIMMER TOTAL POINTS IN BUDAPEST SCORE POINTS PERFORMANCE POINTS MEET PRIZE MONEY
1 Qin Haiyang (CHN) 58.7 30 28.7 $12,000
2 Matt Sates (RSA) 56.3 30 26.3 $10,000
3 Thomas Ceccon (ITA) 55.1 28 27.1 $8,000
4 Michael Andrew (USA) 54.5 28 26.5 $6,000
5 Kieran Smith (USA) 48.4 22 26.4 $5,500
6 Danas Rapsys (LTU) 46.7 20 26.7 $5,400
7 Arno Kamminga (NED) 46.2 19 27.2 $5,300
8 Noe Ponti (SUI) 44.7 19 25.7 $5,200
9 Isaac Cooper (AUS) 43.0 17 26.0 $5,100
10 Nick Fink (USA) 42.5 16 26.5 $5,000
11 Apostolos Christou (GRE) 42.3 17 25.3 $4,900
12 Dylan Carter (TTO) 42.2 16 26.2 $4,800
13 Roman Mityukov (SUI) 40.1 15 25.1 $4,700
14 Caspar Corbeau (NED) 39.4 13 26.4 $4,600
15 Ben Armbruster (AUS) 37.5 12 25.5 $4,500
16 Trenton Julian (USA) 36.0 11 25.0 $4,400
17 Dimitrios Markos (GRE) 35.9 11 24.9 $4,300
18 Oliver Morgan (GBR) 34.4 11 24.9 $4,200
19 Brendon Smith (AUS) 33.7 10 24.4 $4,100
20 Benjamin Proud (GBR) 33.0 16 17.7 $4,000

Men – Overall 2023 World Cup Series Standings (Berlin + Athens + Budapest)

RANK SWIMMER TOTAL POINTS
1 Qin Haiyang (CHN) 175.4
2 Thomas Ceccon (ITA) 167.9
3 Matt Sates (RSA) 166.8
4 Michael Andrew (USA) 162.9
5 Danas Rapsys (LTU) 153.8
6 Kieran Smith (USA) 139.9
7 Isaac Cooper (AUS) 139.1
8 Arno Kamminga (NED) 136.8
9 Nic Fink (USA) 127.3
10 Dylan Carter (TTO) 125.3
11 Brendon Smith (AUS) 117.8
12 Trenton Julian (USA) 117.1
13 Ben Armbruster (AUS) 111.5
14 Caspar Corbeau (NED) 104.6
15 Balazs Hollo (HUN) 100.7
16 Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) 99.3
17 Apostolos Christou (GRE) 95.2
18 Maximillian Guilani (AUS) 89.5
19 Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) 86.4
20 Adam Peaty (GBR) 85.5
21 Ryosuke Irie (JPN) 81.2
22 Stan Pijnenburg (NED) 80.4
23 Dimitrios Markos (GRE) 79.3
24 Kaito Tabuchi (JPN) 68.7
25 Richard Marton (HUN) 68.5
26 Roman Mityukov (SUI) 67.3
27 Cody Simpson (AUS) 60.6
28 Dong Zhihao (CHN) 57.8
29 Mitch Larkin (AUS) 56.4
30 Nandor Nemeth (HUN) 54.5
31 Pieter Coetze (RSA) 52.4
32 Zac Incerti (AUS) 51.0
33 Benedek Bendeguz Kovacs (HUN) 47.6
34 Noe Ponti (SUI) 44.7
35 Andrius Sidlauskas (LTU) 42.7
36 Zac Reid (NZL) 41.1
37 Kenzo Simons (NED) 38.0
38 Kane Follows (NZL) 36.6
39 Abdelrahman Sameh (EGY) 35.9
40 Oliver Morgan (GBR) 35.9
41 Joshua Edwards-Smith (AUS) 35.2
42 Jeremy Desplanches (SUI) 35.1
43 Joshua Brown (USA) 33.8
44 Benjamin Proud (GBR) 33.7
45 Kregor Zirk (EST) 33.7
46 Henrik Christiansen (NOR) 33.4
47 Samuel Short (AUS) 33.0
48 Victor Johansson (SWE) 31.8
49 Sean Grieshop (USA) 30.9
50 Zalan Sarkany (CLB) 30.7
51 Zheng Wen Quah (SGP) 30.4

Men – Final 2023 World Cup Series Prize Money

RANK SWIMMER TOTAL POINTS MEET PRIZE MONEY TRIPLE CROWN/WR BONUS RANKING PRIZE MONEY TOTAL EARNINGS
1 Qin Haiyang (CHN) 175.4 $36,000 $30,000 $100,000 $166,000
2 Thomas Ceccon (ITA) 167.9 $26,000 $20,000 $70,000 $116,000
3 Matt Sates (RSA) 166.8 $25,500 $20,000 $30,000 $75,500
4 Michael Andrew (USA) 162.9 $18,000 $10,000 $15,000 $43,000
5 Danas Rapsys (LTU) 153.8 $18,800 $14,000 $32,800
6 Kieran Smith (USA) 139.9 $15,600 $12,000 $27,600
7 Isaac Cooper (AUS) 139.1 $15,700 $11,000 $26,700
8 Arno Kamminga (NED) 136.8 $15,200 $10,000 $25,200
9 Nic Fink (USA) 127.3 $14,700 $14,700
10 Dylan Carter (TTO) 125.3 $14,300 $14,300
11 Trenton Julian (USA) 117.1 $13,700 $13,700
12 Brendon Smith (AUS) 117.8 $13,500 $13,500
13 Ben Armbruster (AUS) 111.5 $9,900 $9,900
14 Ryosuke Irie (JPN) 81.2 $9,200 $9,200
15 Dimitrios Markos (GRE) 79.3 $9,100 $9,100
16 Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) 99.3 $8,800 $8,800
T-17 Caspar Corbeau (NED) 104.6 $8,600 $8,600
T-17 Balazs Hollo (HUN) 100.7 $8,600 $8,600
19 Pieter Coetze (RSA) 52.4 $5,500 $5,500
20 Noe Ponti (SUI) 44.7 $5,200 $5,200
21 Kaito Tabuchi (JPN) 68.7 $5,100 $5,100
22 Apostolos Christou (GRE) 95.2 $4,900 $4,900
23 Roman Mityukov (SUI) 67.3 $4,700 $4,700
24 Stan Pijnenburg (NED) 80.4 $4,500 $4,500
25 Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) 86.4 $4,400 $4,400
T-26 Oliver Morgan (GBR) 35.9 $4,200 $4,200
T-26 Kregor Zirk (EST) 33.7 $4,200 $4,200
28 Victor Johansson (SWE) 31.8 $4,100 $4,100
T-29 Benjamin Proud (GBR) 33.7 $4,000 $4,000
T-29 Zheng Wen Quah (SGP) 30.4 $4,000 $4,000

Women – Budapest World Cup Standings/Prize Money

RANK SWIMMER TOTAL POINTS IN BUDAPEST SCORE POINTS PERFORMANCE POINTS MEET PRIZE MONEY
1 Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 59.7 30 29.7 $12,000
2 Siobhan Haughey (HKG) 56.5 28 28.5 $10,000
3 Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 55.8 28 27.8 $8,000
4 Zhang Yufei (CHN) 55.7 28 27.7 $6,000
5 Erika Fairweather (NZL) 51.3 24 27.3 $5,500
6 Lani Pallister (AUS) 49.4 22 27.4 $5,400
7 Kylie Masse (CAN) 48.8 22 26.8 $5,300
8 Boglarka Kapas (HUN) 45.8 21 24.8 $5,200
9 Marrit Steenbergen (NED) 45.6 19 26.6 $5,100
10 Tes Schouten (NED) 45.4 19 26.4 $5,000
11 Mona McSharry (IRL) 45.3 19 26.3 $4,900
12 Ingrid Wilm (CAN) 44.2 18 26.2 $4,800
13 Jenna Strauch (AUS) 41.2 15 26.2 $4,700
14 Louise Hansson (SWE) 40.5 15 25.5 $4,600
15 Beata Nelson (USA) 40.1 15 25.1 $4,500
16 Anja Crevar (SRB) 40.0 16 24.0 $4,400
17 Maaike de Waard (NED) 38.5 13 25.5 $4,300
18 Benedetta Pilato (ITA) 38.4 20 18.4 $4,200
19 Alexandria Perkins (AUS) 38.1 13 25.1 $4,100
20 Nikolett Padar (HUN) 36.7 11 28.7 $4,000

Women – Overall 2023 World Cup Series Standings (Berlin + Athens + Budapest)

RANK SWIMMER TOTAL POINTS
1 Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 177.4
2 Siobhan Haughey (HKG) 166.4
3 Zhang Yufei (CHN) 166.2
4 Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 165.5
5 Erika Fairweather (NZL) 153.3
6 Lani Pallister (AUS) 151.0
7 Kylie Masse (CAN) 139.7
8 Ingrid Wilm (CAN) 127.7
9 Jenna Strauch (AUS) 126.3
10 Tes Schouten (NED) 124.9
11 Marrit Steenbergen (NED) 119.0
12 Maaike de Waard (NED) 108.6
13 Cate Campbell (AUS) 105.3
14 Katie Grimes (USA) 102.6
15 Beata Nelson (USA) 97.2
16 Alexandria Perkins (AUS) 96.1
17 Torri Huske (USA) 90.9
18 Bronte Campbell (AUS) 84.3
19 Boglarka Kapas (HUN) 84.3
20 Sydney Pickrem (CAN) 82.5
21 Sophie Hansson (SWE) 77.8
22 Ajna Kesely (HUN) 77.5
23 Louise Hansson (SWE) 76.3
24 Nikolett Padar (HUN) 74.4
25 Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) 70.2
26 Ageha Tanigawa (JPN) 65.5
27 Waka Kobori (JPN) 65.4
28 MIkayla Smith (AUS) 60.0
29 Anja Crevar (SRB) 59.5
30 Lana Pudar (BIH) 58.1
31 Caitlin Deans (NZL) 57.1
32 Nikoleta Trnikova (SVK) 51.1
33 Eneli Jefimova (EST) 49.4
34 Claire Weinstein (USA) 47.4
35 Mona McSharry (IRL) 45.3
36 Letitia Sim (SGP) 43.8
37 Emma Godwin (NZL) 43.7
38 Angelina Kohler (GER) 41.8
39 Kim Busch (NED) 40.2
40 Maggie Macneil (CAN) 40.1
41 Isabel Gose (GER) 38.6
42 Helena Rosendahl (DEN) 38.5
43 Benedetta Pilato (ITA) 38.4
44 Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) 36.7
45 Dalma Sebestyen (HUN) 36.6

Women – Final 2023 World Cup Series Prize Money

RANK SWIMMER TOTAL POINTS MEET PRIZE MONEY TRIPLE CROWN/WR BONUS RANKING PRIZE MONEY TOTAL EARNINGS
1 Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 177.4 $36,000 $50,000 $100,000 $186,000
2 Siobhan Haughey (HKG) 166.4 $26,000 $20,000 $70,000 $116,000
3 Zhang Yufei (CHN) 166.2 $22,000 $20,000 $30,000 $72,000
4 Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 165.5 $24,000 $20,000 $15,000 $59,000
5 Erika Fairweather (NZL) 153.3 $16,300 $10,000 $14,000 $40,300
6 Lani Pallister (AUS) 151.0 $16,200 $10,000 $12,000 $38,200
7 Kylie Masse (CAN) 139.7 $15,300 $11,000 $26,300
8 Ingrid Wilm (CAN) 127.7 $14,000 $10,000 $24,000
9 Tes Schouten (NED) 124.9 $10,100 $10,000 $20,100
10 Jenna Strauch (AUS) 126.3 $14,100 $14,100
11 Marrit Steenbergen (NED) 119.0 $13,100 $13,100
12 Katie Grimes (USA) 102.6 $10,800 $10,800
13 Torri Huske (USA) 90.9 $10,100 $10,100
14 Sydney Pickrem (CAN) 82.5 $9,000 $9,000
15 Maaike de Waard (NED) 108.6 $8,500 $8,500
T-16 Boglarka Kapas (HUN) 84.3 $5,200 $5,200
T-16 Eneli Jefimova (EST) 49.4 $5,200 $5,200
18 Cate Campbell (AUS) 105.3 $5,100 $5,100
19 Mona McSharry (IRL) 45.3 $4,900 $4,900
20 Letitia Sim (SGP) 43.8 $4,800 $4,800
21 Angelina Kohler (GER) 41.8 $4,700 $4,700
T-22 Sophie Hansson (SWE) 77.8 $4,600 $4,600
T-22 Louise Hansson (SWE) 76.3 $4,600 $4,600
T-24 Beata Nelson (USA) 97.2 $4,500 $4,500
T-24 Waka Kobori (JPN) 65.4 $4,500 $4,500
T-26 Anja Crevar (SRB) 59.5 $4,400 $4,400
T-26 Maggie Macneil (CAN) 40.1 $4,400 $4,400
T-26 Isabel Gose (GER) 38.6 $4,400 $4,400
T-29 Claire Weinstein (USA) 47.4 $4,300 $4,300
T-29 Helena Rosendahl (DEN) 38.5 $4,300 $4,300
T-31 Ageha Tanigawa (JPN) 65.5 $4,200 $4,200
T-31 Benedetta Pilato (ITA) 38.4 $4,200 $4,200
T-33 Alexandria Perkins (AUS) 96.1 $4,100 $4,100
T-33 Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) 70.2 $4,100 $4,100
35 Nikolett Padar (HUN) 74.4 $4,000 $4,000

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GrameziPT
1 year ago

Hosszu used to make a lot more money didn’t she? Like 300k or something? Feels we are going backwards with this format. Also only 3 stops for the WC…

Lisa Simpson
1 year ago

The quality has sharply increased from last year.

For women, last year’s overall winner Beata Nelson is now ranked at only #15

Joshua Liendo-Edwards-Smith
Reply to  Lisa Simpson
1 year ago

To be fair, that’s mostly because Nelson is better in SCM, not because of quality. If last year was LCM Nelson probably wouldn’t have been in the top 10 either.

Angello J Malefakis
1 year ago

This prize money 🤑🤑🤑 is simply a joke 🤣🤣🤣 of jokes 🤣🤣🤣. I call that slave labor wages frankly speaking! World Aquatics is run by corrupt and incompetent officials who are out of touch with reality! You break a world record and they give you $10/20/30k for your effort? What a joke 🤣🤣🤣? How about 100k for a world record? These swimmer’s are struggling to make a living? World Aquatics needs to up their game a lot! The sport is still run by old folks and amateurs!

Admin
Reply to  Angello J Malefakis
1 year ago

Where do you think they should source that money from?

tea rex
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

I’ll throw in a fiver…
$99,995 to go…

Boomer
1 year ago

A WR should be worth a lot more than $10k

Andy Hardt
Reply to  Boomer
1 year ago

Eh…if you set a world record, you’re also picking up a lot of prize money from the other metrics. It’s no coincidence that even without the world record bonuses, McKeown would have been tied with Qin for largest haul. I’d rather have larger pay-outs across the board.

Last edited 1 year ago by Andy Hardt
Andysup
1 year ago

The 10th place athlete receiving less than 10% of the winner in the overall payout. Not much parity.

Joshua Liendo-Edwards-Smith
Reply to  Andysup
1 year ago

I agree but that’s partially because of the WR/Crown bonuses. If you just look at regular money earned it’s more than 10%.

Grant Drukker
1 year ago

Removing the clusters have really lowered the earnings swimmers are making on the world cup tour. Less overall meets, but also the cluster bonus’s were pretty big as well.

SHRKB8
Reply to  Grant Drukker
1 year ago

Yeah but I do wonder if the fewer meets have led to faster performances across the board 🤷 (it feels like it to me with so many World Cup Records broken this year). If this model is more marketable it should lead to increased revenue which in turn should lead to bigger paydays for the athletes down the road (payouts have to come from somewhere). Remember a lot of the big nations would have been supporting their athletes to be at these World Cup stops as well so it seems like a no brainer for the athletes in that situation, better racing opportunities with bigger paydays compared to being at home and no payday opportunity.