A reminder that there is no off season in swimming, FINA has moved up the start date of the Eindhoven World Cup this year, and it will kick off on Wednesday, August 7th, in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
The effect of the changes for this year, which include a new ‘pod’ system where meets of close geography are grouped together, but each group is separated by some time; plus the quick turnaround from the World Championships, plus the new (and most would say improved) cash payout structure, is immediately visible. For the first time in a while, this meet truly looks like the elite, deep, short course meters format that FINA has long hoped for.
Among the names entered include:
(Men)
- Ben Stasulius (France)
- Yannick Agnel (France)
- Vlad Morozov (Russia)
- Artem Lobuzov (Russia)
- Bobby Hurley (Australia)
- James Magnussen (Australia)
- Kenneth To (Australia)
- Ashley Delaney (Australia)
- Matthew Abood (Australia)
- David McKeon (Australia)
- Mitch Larkin (Australia)
- David Plummer (USA)
- Chase Kalisz (USA)
- Michael Klueh (USA)
- Conor Dwyer (USA)
- Tom Shields (USA)
- Tyler Clary (USA)
- Ryosuke Irie (Japan)
- Kosuke Kitajima (Japan)
- Takeshi Matsuda (Japan)
- Darian Townsend (South Africa)
- Roland Schoeman (South Africa)
- Chad le Clos (South Africa)
- Daniel Gyurta (Hungary)
- Gergo Kis (Hungary)
- George Bovell (Trinidad & Tobago)
- Andrei Govorov (Ukraine)
- Ashton Baumann (Canada)
- Luke Peddie (Canada)
- Tommy Gossland (Canada)
- Hassaan Abdel-Khalik (Canada)
- Zach Chetrat (Canada)
- Sebastien Verschuren (Netherlands)
- Ari-Pekka Liukkonen (Finland)
- Hendrik Feldwehr (Germany)
- Steffen Deibler (Germany)
- Marco Koch (Germany)
- Barry Murphy (Ireland)
- Michael Jamieson (Great Britain)
- Fabio Scozzoli (Italy)
(Women)
- Katinka Hosszu (Hungary)
- Zsu Jakabos (Hungary)
- Evelyn Verraszto (Hungary)
- Megan Romano (USA)
- Claire Donahue (USA)
- Chloe Sutton (USA)
- Chantal van Landeghem (Canada)
- Hilary Caldwell (Canada)
- Martha McCabe (Canada)
- Katerine Savard (Canada)
- Fiona Doyle (Ireland)
- Jenna Laukkanen (Finland)
- Jennie Johansson (Sweden)
- Rebecca Ejdervik (Sweden)
- Joline Hostman (Sweden)
- Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden)
- Caroline Runhau (Germany)
- Theresa Michalak (Germany)
- Dorothea Brandt (Germany)
- Moniek Nijhuis (Nehterlands)
- Rie Kaneto (Japan)
- Aya Terakawa (Japan)
- Alia Atkinson (Jamaica)
- Rikke Moeller-Pedersen (Denmark)
- Jeanette Ottesen-Gray (Denmark)
- Lotte Friis (Denmark)
- Sally Foster (Australia)
- Emma McKeon (Australia)
- Belinda Hocking (Australia)
- Emily Seebohm (Australia)
- Meagen Nay (Australia)
- Brittany Elmslie (Australia)
- Ami Matsuo (Australia)
- Ellen Gandy (Australia)
- Femke Heemskerk (Netherlands)
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands)
- Daryna Zevina (Ukraine)
- Sharon van Rouwendaal (Netherlands)
- Viktoriya Solnceva (Russia)
- Melania Costa-Schmid (Spain)
- Mireia Belmonte-Garcia (Spain)
- Lauren Boyle (New Zealand)
- Inge Dekker (Netherlands)
- Ilaria Bianchi (Italy)
- Tao Li (Singapore)
Vlad Morozov will be swimming a little bit of everything, but what’s really exciting is his entry in the 100 IM – where he’ll get a chance to go against Kenneth To and George Bovell, who went back-and-forth in a great individual battle in the race at last year’s World Cup. Morozov will also race Australian James Magnussen in the sprint freestyles.
There are a few thin events, like the women’s 200 breaststroke which will see only one heat, but even there it’s a deep heat with the likes of Rikke Moeller-Pedersen, Sally Foster, Rie Kaneto, and Martha McCabe, among others.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, the defending series champion, will take on another ludicrous schedule, racing 11 events, mostly prelims and finals, in just two days: 50/100/200 back, 100/200/400 free, 100/200/400 IM, 50/200 fly.
American Megan Romano won’t be quite as nuts, but with professional status now coming after her name, she’s looking to take on some big points and big cash as well with 7 events: 50/100/200 back, 50/100/200 free, 100 IM.
It’s difficult for me to be interested in short course in August. I understand all the French swimmers who are on vacation.
If I remember it correctly, rumours said once that first World Cup meetings would have been in a long course pool.
Katinka Hosszu just broke the s/c WR in women’s 200IM already in heats! Hahaha. 🙂
No surprise. I repeat Barcelona was just a warm-up before her short course season and the 212 races she will swim. 🙂
It seems to be so. World records in 100 and 400IM may be also in danger.
2.04.39 for Hosszu.
If Morozov still has a little gas, he could break the 100 IM world record.
And Hosszu entered in 11 events. Barcelona was just a warm-up for her. 🙂
And Mireia is there too! 7400 meters last week!
Where is Hagino? Tired? Incredible! Perhaps what happened in the 400 IM was a real eye opener for him.
Bobo,
Where are all the French?
On vacation of course! 🙂
n enjoyin their burgers.. at least Amary is lol
along w/his pringles haha
http://instagram.com/p/cHFQa5Rn3W/#
It’s hopeless for Leveaux!
After the hamburgers, now pringles.
Not nice, emilyr, to denounce Amaury! 🙂
I’m kind of surprised that Anthony Ervin isn’t doing it again this year since he did so good last time. I guess that’s prepping for the Grand Prix in a few months or just taking it easy.
I’m wondering it as well. This time World Cup tour is easier as it’s split up into three clusters and there is about a month between them. You can also earn reasonable rewards on every cluster so it’s easier to enter in just one. Ervin may attend later too.
Certain American youngsters would have been nice inclusions on the list but they probably had to fulfil their obligations or enter in other competitions back home and if I have understood it correctly they can’t receive prize money anyway.
Though he is listed , Magnussen suffered a back injury day 7 of WC. However he has stated circuit racing is in his future plans.
I really appreciate it that Maggie attended and I couldn’t be happier if he understands the importance of racing for him. He just earned the line four for the final. Seems to be pretty much the Aussie final as there are also To, Abood and Graham. There is also certain Morozov who may be quite fast though. 🙂
The new World Cup scoring system favours racing (making podiums) over one excellent performance which should encourage elites to attend more events. There are going to be a couple of nice battles in extraordinary events.
I thought Shields,Dwyer and Klueh were swimming at this meet?
And totally unrelated, is anyone switching training camps,retiring, moving?
Those 3 are swimming the WC.
Fewer Americans participating than some internet chatter had indicated earlier (don’t forget Tom Shields who will also be there). Guess most of them just wanted to go home and back to their beds!
Still, should be some fast racing with many of the international elites entered, hopefully with some of their taper still in play.
The BCN 2013 record breaking party isn’t quite done yet 🙂