Berlin, Toronto and Indianapolis will host three stops on the FINA World Cup tour in October and November 2022.
The cluster of events starts in the German city – which has staged 17 World Cup events since 2001 – from 21-23 October before heading to Canada to visit Toronto from 28-30 October and then going south to the swimming hotbed of Indianapolis and the Indiana University Natatorium from 3-5 November.
The World Cup slots into the calendar between the World Championships in Budapest (18 June – 3 July) and the World Short-Course Championships in December for which all three legs of the tour will be qualifiers.
Emma McKeon: Photo Courtesy: Swimming Australia
More than 750 athletes from 40 countries across all five continents are expected to compete for an overall series prize pool of USD 1.2 million. A new bonus structure will provide financial incentives for standout performances as well.
Matthew Sates announced himself on the international stage at last year’s tour with four golds and a silver in Berlin along with two world junior records in the 200IM and 200 free.
The 18-year-old claimed the men’s overall series title in 2021 with 11-time Olympic medallist Emma McKeon the top woman.
Sates, of South Africa, said through a FINA release:
“I’m really looking forward to kicking off the FINA Swimming World Cup in Berlin and then continuing the tour to North America for stops in Toronto and Indianapolis.
“The 2021 World Cup season was a breakthrough season for me; setting world junior records and winning the overall series title leaves me hungry for more.
“Having a compact three-week tour or intense racing in cool cities after this summer’s FINA World Championships is an ideal format for quality racing. I know my competition will bring their best – and I will, too.”
McKeon added:
“For me, 2021 was an incredible year. After winning four individual golds in Tokyo, the FINA Swimming World Cup gave me the racing series I needed to continue my run of top races past my big success at the Olympics.
“I’ve enjoyed competing in the Swimming World Cup. It’s a great way to train and compete while you travel the world with your friendly rivals from the pool.”