This year’s FINA World Cup has featured many athletes putting up superior swims as they get in more racing experience before the 2016 Olympics. The final meet in the series begins Friday in Dubai, where Katinka Hosszu and Cameron Van Der Burgh are set to receive their $100,000 bonus as the women’s and men’s overall points winners.
The meet in Dubai will also give Australians Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm another opportunity to make history in the backstroke events. The two have been swimming fast in the past two World Cup meets, putting up times that rank among the top 10 in history. Seebohm’s 58.34 from earlier this week in Doha puts her about two tenths from the world record of 58.12 set in 2009 by Gemma Spofforth, while Larkin will be looking to join the 1:52 club in the 200 backstroke.
The men’s sprint freestyles will again feature a great matchup between Bruno Fratus and Anthony Ervin in the 50 free, while Chad Le Clos will try to once again defeat the likes of Federico Grabich and Jeremy Stravius in the 100 free.
Viktoria Gunes joins the World Cup meet for the first time, setting up a possible sweep of the breaststrokes in Dubai. Look for her to challenge the 2:20 barrier in the 200 breast two months after breaking that barrier with a 2:19.64 at the world junior championships. She’ll be pushed in the 200 by world record holder Rikke Pedersen and by Alia Atkinson in the sprint breaststrokes.
Adam Peaty and Van Der Burgh will race each other in the breaststroke events, with Peaty looking to end Van Der Burgh’s unbeaten World Cup streak in the 50 and 100 distances.
The American junior team will close out their Middle East trip with more racing against some of the world’s best. Maxime Rooney was the standout for the group in Doha, winning bronze in the 200 free.
Dubai! My lovely home ? welcome to Dubai, dear swimmers! We are happy to have you #MyDubai