The 2015 FINA World Cup is nearing its conclusion, and the next stop in Qatar is likely to continue to feature fast swims as the world prepares for the Olympics.
Mitch Larkin, the top swimmer at the Tokyo stop of the World Cup earlier this week with world-leading times in the 100 and 200 backstrokes, returns to try and improve on his history-making swims. David Plummer, the man who beat Larkin in the 50 back in Tokyo, returns for a rematch in the sprint events. Liam Tancock, the world record holder in the 50 back, joins the World Cup tour along with a strong group from Great Britain.
Emily Seebohm will also look to turn up the heat in Doha, looking for a cluster win in the Middle East and secure her No. 2 ranking in the overall standings behind Katinka Hosszu.
Also joining the World Cup circuit for the first time are several American teenagers looking to get some crucial senior-level international racing. Among them are newly-crowned junior world champions Maxime Rooney and Sean Grieshop, as well as Michael Andrew and Cassidy Bayer.
Joining the American youth squad as mentors will be Plummer, Caitlin Leverenz, Giles Smith and Felicia Lee.
Chad Le Clos returns to the World Cup meets after skipping the Asia legs. He is not likely to earn enough points to overtake Cameron Van Der Burgh and repeat as the men’s World Cup overall champion, but he could keep his fellow South African from winning the Middle East cluster. Le Clos is entered in four events, with an eye on sweeping the butterfly races.
The race for third place in the men’s overall standings is close, with Australia’s Ashley Delaney and Hungary’s David Verraszto tied at 105 points each. Both are racing in Doha for the opportunity to possibly break the tie heading into the final meet in Dubai next week.
Federica Pellegrini steps into the World Cup racing fray for the first time this season, setting herself up for a big payday, particularly in the 200 freestyle.
Sophie Wotherspoon here are the psych sheets