World Aquatics Awards Extra $200K As 11 Swimmers Earn Triple Crown Bonus At World Cup

2023 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP – BUDAPEST

Swimmers took full advantage of the $10,000 Triple Crown bonuses offered by World Aquatics at the three-stop World Cup Series, with 11 different athletes securing a sweep of at least one event at the circuit finale last weekend in Budapest.

Seven of the 11 swimmers swept more than one event, led by Kaylee McKeown and Qin Haiyang, who emerged as the overall series winners after McKeown dominated the women’s backstroke events and Qin was untouchable in men’s breaststroke.

By sweeping three events, McKeown and Qin both earned an extra $30,000 as a result of the Triple Crown bonus, while Sarah SjostromThomas CecconSiobhan HaugheyZhang Yufei and Matt Sates all earned $20,000 after going three-for-three in two events.

Also picking up the bonus were Erika FairweatherLani PallisterTes Schouten and Michael Andrew.

Note that Pallister earned the bonus in the 800 and 1500 free (combined) because only one of the distance events was contested at each stop.

With the 11 names combining for 20 Triple Crown bonuses, World Aquatics awarded an extra $200,000 for the series.

There were 32 individual events (combining men’s and women’s 800/1500 free) contested at the series, meaning that well over half (62.5 percent) of races were swept by the same swimmer.

TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS – WOMEN

Swimmer Event Berlin Athens Budapest
Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) Women’s 50 Free 23.95 24.10 23.97
Siobhan Haughey (HKG) Women’s 100 Free 52.02* 52.55 52.24
Siobhan Haughey (HKG) Women’s 200 Free 1:55.10* 1:55.03* 1:54.08*
Erika Fairweather (NZL) Women’s 400 Free 4:01.09* 4:01.90 4:02.35
Lani Pallister (AUS) Women’s 800/1500 Free 8:16.82* 15:55.73* 8:15.11*
Kaylee McKeown (AUS) Women’s 50 Back 27.24* 27.02* 26.86**
Kaylee McKeown (AUS) Women’s 100 Back 57.95* 57.63* 57.33**
Kaylee McKeown (AUS) Women’s 200 Back 2:06.47* 2:06.02* 2:04.81*
Tes Schouten (NED) Women’s 200 Breast 2:22.13* 2:23.23 2:21.52*
Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) Women’s 50 Fly 25.06* 24.97* 25.21
Zhang Yufei (CHN) Women’s 100 Fly 56.74 56.06* 56.13
Zhang Yufei (CHN) Women’s 200 Fly 2:07.11 2:06.73 2:05.65*

*New World Cup Record (at the time)
**New World Record

TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS – MEN

Swimmer Event Berlin Athens Budapest
Thomas Ceccon (ITA) Men’s 100 Free 47.97 48.36 48.41
Michael Andrew (USA) Men’s 50 Back 24.47 24.79 24.64
Thomas Ceccon (ITA) Men’s 100 Back 52.27 52.73 52.58
Qin Haiyang (CHN) Men’s 50 Breast 26.29* 26.52 26.30
Qin Haiyang (CHN) Men’s 100 Breast 57.69* 58.44 57.82
Qin Haiyang (CHN) Men’s 200 Breast 2:07.45* 2:08.05 2:07.32*
Matt Sates (RSA) Men’s 200 Fly 1:55.87 1:55.44 1:55.25
Matt Sates (RSA) Men’s 200 IM 1:58.01 1:58.86 1:57.72

*New World Cup Record (at the time)

Swimmers Who Got Faster At Each Stop

NEAR MISSES

Lithuanian Danas Rapsys was denied the Triple Crown bonus in the men’s 200 and 400 free after winning both events in Berlin and Athens, missing out by just three-tenths in the 200 free in Budapest.

Rapsys was the runner-up to Australian Maximillian Giuliani (1:45.42) in a time of 1:45.72, mirroring his performances from Berlin (1:45.75) and Athens (1:45.72) that earned victories.

In the 400 free, Rapsys was third in Budapest in a time of 3:47.00, with Australia’s Sam Short roaring to the win in 3:44.51. Rapsys approached Short’s winning time at the opening leg in Berlin, clocking 3:44.86, but did just enough to win in Athens (3:48.64).

The only other swimmers who won events in both Berlin and Athens but then missed out in Budapest were Ruta Meilutyte (women’s 50 breast) and Katie Grimes (women’s 400 IM), both of whom did not contest the final leg of the series.

See a full prize money breakdown from the series as a whole here.

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kevin
1 year ago

The meets appeared to be winners with quality performances . The commentary was very ordinary . Good to see world records and swimmers earning nice dollars

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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