Leon Marchand Leads the ‘Tremendous 12’ into World Cup Action in Asia
Leon Marchand, winner of four golds at Paris 2024, is among a star-studded field of Olympic champions and medallists at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024.
The Frenchman is one of 12 swimmers slated to compete at all three legs of the tour which run from 18-20 October in Shanghai, China, and Incheon, South Korea, from 24-26 October before Singapore hosts the finals from 31 October to 2 November with competition contested over short-course metres.
Kaylee McKeown & Qin Haiyang: Photo Courtesy: World Aquatics
Thomas Ceccon, Nicolo Martinenghi and Pan Zhanle, winners of the 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle respectively at the Olympics with the Chinese setting an astonishing WR of 46.40 en-route to victory, have also entered all three legs.
Also among the men’s field are Arno Kamminga, double silver medallist in Tokyo and 22-time World Cup winner, Qin Haiyang – who claimed an historic breaststroke treble at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka – and four-time Olympic medallist Chad Le Clos.
Kaylee McKeown won the backstroke double among five medals in Paris to take her Olympic haul to nine. The Australian continued the form that has seen her called “Miss Unstoppable” at last month’s national short-course championships when she lowered the 100 back world record to 54.56.
Kate Douglass, who won golds in the 200m breaststroke and women’s medley relay among four medals at the Games, is also slated to compete in all three legs.
She is joined by US teammate Regan Smith, who left the French capital with two golds and three silvers, Siobhan Haughey, who won double bronze in the 100 and 200 free, and Zhang Yufei, winner of six medals in Paris.
Prize money of USD 1.2 million is on offer, with additional bonuses, including USD 10,000 for breaking a world record.
Additional financial incentives include a USD 10,000 bonus for athletes who complete a “crown” by winning the same event in all three cities.
Qin was the overall male winner in 2023 ahead of Ceccon and Matthew Sates of South Africa with McKeown, Haughey and Zhang the top three in the women’s competition.
Two world records and 33 Swimming World Cup records were set during last year’s tour that took place in Berlin, Athens and Budapest.