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28 March 2024

Records tumble at swimming World Cup series in Dubai

Gold medalist at the Swimming World Cup, Daniel Gyurta. (SUPPLIED)

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By Staff

It was a night that will be etched in the history of Swimming World Cup as the first finals session at the Hamdan Sports Complex culminated with the Hungarian team setting two new world records.

Katinka Hosszu

Katinka Hosszu and Danie Gyurta both set new world marks, Hosszu in the 200IM (2:02.13) and Gyurta in the 200m breaststroke (2:00.48). Hosszu had a spectacular evening, picking up four golds from four events, the other three being the 200m freestyle (1:52.25), 50m backstroke (26:10) and 200m backstroke (2:01.17).

Immediately after breaking the world record she set just four days ago in Doha, a delighted Hosszu said “I’m so excited, I’m so happy I finally got one here”. Hosszu nearly added another world record to her tally when in the 200m backstroke when she was under world record pace until the 150m mark, but fell just short.

“It feels pretty good, the amazing part is last year after swimming four races I would be happy to just make the podium, but now all four were close or better than world record times. I’m pretty happy that what I’m doing is right. I’m working a lot harder now, I consider myself a 24 hour athlete and I focus on my goals, I’m aiming for Rio.

Daniel Gyurta


Gyurta was equally pleased to have broken his own record which had stood since 2009. 

“That was my goal before the race, to swim under 2:01.00 so I’m really happy with that. The crowd and the pool are amazing, I’m pleased to be in Dubai after missing the competition last year.”

Inge Dekker


Also making regular trips to the top of the podium was sprint queen Inge Dekker of the Netherlands, who took gold in the 100m butterfly (56:03) and 50m freestyle (23.95), to add to her four gold medal haul from Doha. 

Dekker said “I’m feeling good, that was faster than Doha (the 100m fly) so that’s good. I was feeling tired after the European championships but I like short course, it’s fun to race and I love swimming here.”

Chad Le Clos delivered in the 100m freestyle and as anticipated took the gold in 46.24 ahead of Germany’s Steffen Deibler. Le Clos then turned around a poor heat swim in this morning’s 50m butterfly to win in 22.02, edging out team-mate Roland Schoeman and USA’s Thomas Shields and who both touched in 22.51.

Le Clos said “I’m happy to keep my winning streak in Dubai going, and that was an African record in the 100m. I’m really tired so very happy with that.”

Both Schoeman and Shields picked up golds of their own later though, with Schoeman taking out the 50m breaststroke (26.16) and Shields the 200m butterfly (1:50.19).  Shields also collected another silver, finishing behind Trinidad and Tobago’s George Bovell in the 100m IM(51.79). Bovell was pleased to have improved on his gold medal winning time in Doha, saying “I learned from my mistakes, I was more committed and put in a solid swim”.



Australia’s Thomas Fraser-Holmes kept his winning streak going too, after taking gold at the Commonwealth Games, the Pan Pacs and in Doha, he broke a World Cup and Commonwealth record in the 400m IM, in 3:58.69, ahead of David Verraszto of Hungary and Tunisia’s Oussama Mellouli.

Fraser-Holmes then held on in a tight finish in the 400m freestyle to hold out local favourite and European champion Velimir Stjepanovic. Fraser-Holmes finished in 3:38.22, just ahead of Stjepanovic’s 3:38.32.

A tired but elated Fraser-Holmes said “I’m very happy with the record, I’m just looking to improve every day , and to compete to the best of my ability no matter how tired or sore I am. I’m looking forward to the next two swims, I’m happy with my fitness, I’ve done a lot of aerobic work and I’m just really excited for the future.”

Mellouli was happy with the silver in the 400m IM “I’m really excited to be here and happy to make the podium again, I’m not in top form right now, I’m just taking it easy and working my way back into it.”

Germany’s Christian Diener also continued his good form from Doha, taking out the 100m backstroke in 50.10.

Spain’s Mireia Belmonte continued her dominance of the distance events, comfortably winning the 800m freestyle in 8:04.88, while Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson continued her winning form from Doha in the 100m breaststroke, winning in 1:03.26. “I’m pretty happy with that, I didn’t have a great Commonwealth Games, I performed well in the prelims and semis but the finals weren’t great so I’m happy with these wins.”

The Dubai competition is the second round of the seven-leg highly competitive World Cup series, which commenced in Doha on 27-28 August. After Dubai the competition will move onto to Hong Kong, then Moscow, Beijing and Tokyo. The final event will be held in Singapore on November 1-2. .

The Swimming World Cup is contested in a 25m pool and sees both men and women vying for prize money in each of the 36 events. Points are awarded for performances using a FINA scale which is based on the current world record time. Points are accumulated over the seven leg series, with prizemoney for all medalists. The overall top scorer in the men’s and women’s section at the end of the series will win USD$100,000.

Organisers have also included special races for children on both days to give them the opportunity to be part of the event. The “Children’s Swimming Festival” will feature 50m races for 8-12 year olds, and is open to any child who can swim that distance.

The competition will continue tomorrow with heats in the morning at 10am, and finals being contested from 5.30pm.