McKeown, Qin Top All Earners With $12K Apiece At Opening World Cup Leg In Berlin

2023 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP – BERLIN

Kaylee McKeown and Qin Haiyang were the top performers of the opening leg of the 2023 World Cup Series last weekend in Berlin, making them the highest earners on the circuit thus far with two more stops to go.

As the top point-scorers from the three-day meet, McKeown and Qin earned $12,000 (USD) apiece to lead all swimmers, while Zhang Yufei and Thomas Ceccon also earned five-figure paydays as the #2 ranked swimmers in Berlin.

The top-20 point scorers for both men and women receive prize money from each leg of the series, and then a separate prize pool will be distributed to the overall series leaders at the conclusion of the third and final leg in Budapest.

WOMEN’S PRIZE MONEY RANKINGS – BERLIN

Rank Swimmer Points Prize Money
1 Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 58.6 $12,000
2 Zhang Yufei (CHN) 55.2 $10,000
3 Siobhan Haughey (HKG) 54.1 $8,000
4 Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 53.8 $6,000
5 Erika Fairweather (NZL) 53.6 $5,500
6 Lani Pallister (AUS) 51.6 $5,400
7 Katie Grimes (USA) 50.5 $5,300
8 Eneli Jefimova (EST) 49.4 $5,200
9 Cate Campbell (AUS) 46.5 $5,100
10 Kylie Masse (CAN) 45 $5,000
11 Torri Huske (USA) 44.2 $4,900
12 Letitia Sim (SGP) 43.8 $4,800
13 Angelina Kohler (GER) 41.8 $4,700
14 Jenna Strauch (AUS) 41.6 $4,600
15 Ingrid Wilm (CAN) 41.3 $4,500
16 Isabel Gose (GER) 38.6 $4,400
17 Helena Bach (DEN) 38.5 $4,300
18 Maaike de Waard (NED) 37.6 $4,200
19 Sydney Pickrem (CAN) 37.5 $4,100
20 Marrit Steenbergen (NED) 37.2 $4,000

Despite the fact that a swimmer only earns points for their top three performances at each meet (see more on the scoring format below), McKeown won four events in Berlin, sweeping the women’s backstroke events while also claiming the 200 IM. The Aussie set World Cup Records in all three backstroke events.

Zhang won the women’s 100 and 200 fly, and added a runner-up finish in the 50 fly behind Sarah Sjostrom, who finished 4th in the women’s rankings and earned $6,000.

Ranking 3rd for the women was Siobhan Haughey, who won the women’s 100 free, 200 free and also took 3rd in the 400 free. Haughey, who walks away with $8,000, had the top FINA point swim of the meet, scoring 982 in the 100 free after setting a new Asian Record in 52.02.

MEN’S PRIZE MONEY RANKINGS – BERLIN

Rank Swimmer Points Prize Money
1 Qin Haiyang (CHN) 58.7 $12,000
2 Thomas Ceccon (ITA) 57.7 $10,000
3 Danas Rapsys (LTU) 54.8 $8,000
4 Michael Andrew (USA) 54.5 $6,000
5 Matt Sates (RSA) 54.4 $5,500
6 Ben Armbruster (AUS) 49 $5,400
7 Isaac Cooper (AUS) 48.2 $5,300
8 Arno Kamminga (NED) 48 $5,200
9 Ryosuke Irie (JPN) 45.3 $5,100
10 Trenton Julian (USA) 44.4 $5,000
11 Kieran Smith (USA) 43.7 $4,900
12 Brendon Smith (AUS) 43 $4,800
13 Nic Fink (USA) 40.3 $4,700
14 Dylan Carter (TTO) 39.3 $4,600
15 Stan Pijnenburg (NED) 37.2 $4,500
16 Balazs Hollo (HUN) 36.6 $4,400
17 Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) 35.2 $4,300
18 Kregor Zirk (EST) 33.7 $4,200
19 Victor Johansson (SWE) 31.8 $4,100
20 Zheng Wen Quah (SGP) 30.4 $4,000

On the men’s side, Qin swept the breaststroke events in World Cup Record fashion to score 58.7 points and earn the $12,000 total, notching three of the top-four FINA point swims for the men, led by his 200 breast effort (965).

Ceccon was a close runner-up after he went three-for-three in Berlin, winning the men’s 100 free, 100 back and 200 back. His 100 back showing of 52.27 scored 962 FINA points, good for second among men.

Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys had two wins and one runner-up finish to rank third among the men and claim $8,000, while American Michael Andrew swam in five finals and ended up ranking fourth after securing two wins in the 50 back and 100 fly.

CHANGE FROM SHORT COURSE TO LONG COURSE

In 2022, when the series was being contested in short course meters, Beata Nelson won the women’s overall series title, while Dylan Carter edged out Nic Fink for the men.

We’re already seeing the change come into effect in terms of who the top performers are, as Fink and Carter find themselves back in 13th and 14th place, respectively, for the men, while Nelson didn’t quite make the money in Berlin as she sits down in 22nd after scoring 34.7 points.

Haughey, who finished second behind Nelson last year, is the lone standout from Berlin who also was a top-three finisher last year.

How Athletes Score Points

Swimmers score points at the World Cup series based on their top three performances from each meet, taking into account both their finish in the event and their FINA points score.

Finishing Position Scoring

Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
Points 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

FINA Points Scoring

  • 990-999 points = 9.9 points
  • 980-989 points = 9.8 points
  • 970-979 FINA points = 9.7 points, etc.

The top 20 point scorers from each meet will earn prize money, ranging from $12,000 down to $4,000.

Once the series concludes, the top eight overall scorers will earn money from a separate prize pool, with the winner claiming $100,000 and 8th place taking home $10,000.

With $224,000 being handed out at all three stops ($112,000 per gender), and then $524,000 being distributed at the end of the series to the overall leaders ($262,000 per gender), a minimum of $1.196 million will be awarded during the series. More money will be handed out if a swimmer breaks a world record or wins the same event at all three stops ($10,000 bonus).

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Tencor
1 year ago

Who holds the record for total earnings? Katinka Hosszu?

Samboys
Reply to  Tencor
1 year ago

Yep, I’m pretty sure they changed the rules because of her. I remember her earning $300k+ one year.

Alison England
Reply to  Samboys
1 year ago

Peanuts compared with other sports.

Admin
Reply to  Tencor
1 year ago

Hmmm that seems like the logical guess, but the prize money system swings so wildly from era to era it’s hard to know for sure. Would be dependent on whether she was in a high money era or a low money era in addition to the number of wins.

There have been other swimmers who had a lot of World Cup wins in prior eras, plus the 2008-2009 World Record bonanzas.

Therese Alshammar won 4 series titles, for example.

Nick the biased Aussie
1 year ago

Kaylee gunna be rich

Sub13
Reply to  Nick the biased Aussie
1 year ago

Best case scenario:

Overall winner – $100k
3 x stop winner – $12k x 3 = $36k
4 x Triple Crown winner = $40k

Total = $176k USD = $273k AUD

That’s impressive but also depressing thinking about how long it takes me to earn that much.

James Richards
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Best case scenario is the one with WR.

WAQ give more money to WR according to the article.

Sub13
Reply to  James Richards
1 year ago

Lol I was ignoring WR as it definitely isn’t something expected. If you want to get crazy the absolute best case scenario is that she breaks a WR every single time she gets in the pool and earns $200k+ in WR bonuses.

James Richards
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

I mean, 50 and 100 is within her reach this year.

Joel
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Don’t compare yourself to soccer, football, golf or tennis players then. They of course earn way more.

Torchbearer
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

They earn it …… how many hours do swimmers put in!!!!

Sub13
Reply to  Torchbearer
1 year ago

Oh not saying she doesn’t deserve it at all! And it’s not like she’s only doing 3 weeks worth of work. She works every single day but only gets paid when she wins.

I think swimmers deserve more money, I was just lamenting my life as a non-famous worker bee haha

Nick the biased Aussie
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Article says minimum $1.196m so Kaylee potentially will earn 11% of the prize money, that’s not including $40k for the crowns.
I think it’s great that Kaylee might earn that much, but have to remember she’s the very best of the best atm. Will be interesting to see what everyone else gets.

Sub13
Reply to  Nick the biased Aussie
1 year ago

I think that minimum assumes no one earns a crown, because they are obviously not guaranteed to occur. But yeah that’s a bit insane!

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  Nick the biased Aussie
1 year ago

It’s more depressing for Kaylee tbh – she’s the best in the world at what she does, based on the World Cup metrical and earns a few hundred thousand dollars.

Meanwhile the 10,000th best real estate agent earns I dunno $5million?

Swimmer
1 year ago

it’s a good thing world aquatics are so generously giving gOoD prize money to make it worth while for the athletes competing not like some of them aren’t spending more on travel and hotel expenses or anything.

Sub13
Reply to  Swimmer
1 year ago

It is good but I feel they could give a little to individual races. Just like… a couple hundred for making a final?

You could race all 3 stops and make 9 finals but still earn $0 if you’re not top 20 overall at any of them.

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Imagine being the 8th best person at your job in the world and earning $0 for the week.

James Richards
1 year ago

Why is Torri Huske so low at #11?

Sub13
Reply to  James Richards
1 year ago

It goes off your best 3 events. She has 3 bronzes in ok times which is only enough for 11th. Everyone above her has at least one silver and probably more points for swimming better times.

James Richards
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

But according to this article, Torri Huske led the scoring table after 2 days

https://swimswam.com/scoring-leaders-likely-winners-after-day-2-of-the-berlin-swimming-world-cup/

How did she fall from #1 to #11?

Miss M
Reply to  James Richards
1 year ago

She had 3 scores after 2 days, whereas some of the top athletes had only competed in 2 events at that point.

Sub13
Reply to  James Richards
1 year ago

As Miss M said, Huske only led after day 2 because she had swam 3 events while all of the other top swimmers had only swam 2.

Your best 3 events count for points. At the end of day 2, Kaylee McKeown had 50 back worth 19.7 and 100 back worth 19.7 for a total of 39.4. When she added the 200 back worth 19.2 points, her score increased by 19.2 points to 58.6.

At the end of day 2, Huske had 50 fly worth 14.4 points, 50 free worth 14.8 points and 200 free worth 10.3 points for a total of 39.5. When she added the 100 fly on day 3 worth 15.0 points, she lost the points of… Read more »

James Richards
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Ah got it. Thanks!

Torri Stan
Reply to  James Richards
1 year ago

As Torri mentioned in some interviews, the World Cup are training meets for her. She is swimming more events than most of her competitors. She didn’t taper or even rest. Judging by the times, many swimmers are likely tapered or at a minimum rested a few days.

Dan386
1 year ago

Well earned, Kaylee! Should be more.

RealSlimThomas
1 year ago

I hope Beata Nelson can rebound!

James Richards
Reply to  RealSlimThomas
1 year ago

Isn’t she a short course specialist?

Nick the biased Aussie
Reply to  James Richards
1 year ago

That wasn’t but should’ve been selected for short course world in 2022.

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
Reply to  RealSlimThomas
1 year ago

Does Beata have the most differential in her short course and long course abilities out of all current elite swimmers?

(This is not meant to be derogatory, there’s no inherent superiority in LC over SC, it’s just interesting to me).

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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