Superstars line up for Swimming World Cup in Dubai

A stellar line up of international stars have entered the Dubai leg of the Fina Swimming World Cup, promising a thrilling competition when the series comes to the Hamdan Sports Complex on October 17-18.

Not only will the men’s competition feature crowd favourites Chad Le Clos of South Africa, Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia and last year’s overall World Cup winner Kenneth To of Australia, but the women’s competition will be equally spectacular.

Led by Hungarian superstar Katinka Hosszu, the line up includes World and Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands, World Champions Jeanette Ottesen Gray of Denmark and Yulia Yefimova of Russia, and World record holders Mireia Belonte Garcia of Spain and Federica Pellegrini of Italy.

Hosszu, who thrilled the Dubai crowds last year when she completely dominated the World Cup competition and took home seven gold medals, is in scintillating form. 

Hosszu collected two gold medals in the 15th Fina Swimming World Championships in Barcelona in July in the 200m and 400m individual medley, just days before breaking an incredible six world (short course) records in the first two rounds of the Swimming World Cup in Eindhoven and Berlin in August.

Hosszu blitzed the World Cup competition last year, winning 53 medals, 39 of them gold, over the eight-leg series, and after only two rounds so far this year she is on track to defend her title already sitting an extraordinary 185 points ahead of the second placed swimmer on the overall rankings.

But Hosszu is certainly not the only one to watch, with Ranomi Kromowidjojo also in fine form. The 23 year-old from the Netherlands first made her mark on Dubai in the Fina World Championships (25m) in 2010, taking gold in her pet events, the 50m and 100m freestyle.
Kromowidjojo then went on to win gold in both these events at the 2012 London Olympics, and took the gold in the 50m freestyle at this year’s Fina World Championships in Barcelona.

She has also had a brilliant start to her World Cup campaign, taking gold and breaking the 50m short course world record in the first event in Eindhoven on August 7.

Kromowidjojo also won the 100m freestyle gold, taking the double again on August 10-11 during the Berlin leg, and is currently in third place on the rankings behind Hosszu and Belmonte Garcia.

Spain’s Mireia Belmonte Garcia is also a Dubai favourite, having won three gold and one silver medals at the 2010 World Championships (25m), and taking out the coveted 'Swimmer of the Championships' title.

The 22 year-old Belmonte Garcia has been having some titanic battles with Hosszu in her favoured Individual Medley events, so the match up in Dubai should provide some thrilling competition for the fans.

Belmonte Garcia has continued the record breaking performances in this year’s World Cup, breaking two world records in the 400m and 800m freestyle, putting her in second overall on the rankings.

The women’s field also includes Italy’s Federica Pellegrini, who holds the world records in the 200m and 400m freestyle, and Yulia Yefimova of Russia who took gold in the 50m breaststroke at this year’s World Championships in Barcelona ahead of the Lithuanian superstar Ruta Meilutyte. 
Also set to be a big threat is Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen Gray who won the 50m butterfly gold medal in Barcelona. Ottesen Gray performed strongly in the World Cup events in Eindhoven and Berlin, taking gold in the 200m butterfly at both events.

“We are delighted with the calibre of entries for the Fina Swimming World Cup this year, and spectators are guaranteed world class performances.  We urge all sports fans to come out to the Hamdan Sports Centre next week to see these magnificent athletes in action,” said Ahmed Al Falasi, President of the UAE Swimming Association and Chairman of the Organising Committee.

Dr Ahmed Al Sharif Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, said: “With such a wealth of talent every race is sure to be thrilling, and we are excited to be presenting yet another world class competition.”

“We urge all swimming fans, children and families to come out to witness what will be a great spectacle of sport,” he added.

The Dubai competition, which will take place on October 17-18, is the fourth leg of the eight-leg highly competitive World Cup series, which commenced in August in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, before moving on the Berlin.

The Moscow leg will be held on October 12-13 before the Dubai event. The competition will then move to on to Doha, Singapore, and Tokyo, with the final event in Beijing on November 13-14. 

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. The event will see teams from over 30 countries including Australia, the USA and Poland competing for honours.

The Fina Swimming World Cup will begin at 10am on Thursday October 17 with heats in the morning at 10am, and finals being contested at 6pm, with the same schedule on Friday October 18.

Tickets to the event will be available at the door at the Hamdan Sports Complex, which is located on Emirates Road (E611). More details can be found on the Facebook page: FinaSWC13Dubai.
 

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