World Cup Berlin to Feature Deep, Talented Field Next Week
The Olympic season has begun, with less than 10 months remaining until the start of the swimming competition at the Paris Games. This final countdown shifts the focus of swimmers and coaches slightly, and high-level long course racing is most valuable during this year. Accordingly, swift in-season swims are plentiful, and we might see a handful next week as the World Aquatics World Cup gets underway in Berlin.
As with other pre-Olympic years, the entire World Cup is being held in long course, and each meet will now follow a three-day format, beginning each meet on Friday and continuing Saturday and Sunday. Berlin will take place October 6-8, followed by Athens October 13-15 and Budapest October 20-22.
Given the timing, it’s no surprise that a large chunk of the world’s elite racers are planning on attending the Berlin meet. According to an entry list that World Aquatics released, 16 swimmers who were individual medalists at this year’s World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, will be in the meet, and that number does not include standouts from further back who missed Worlds for one reason or another.
On the women’s side, the list of medalist includes Kaylee, McKeown, Erika Fairweather, Katie Grimes, Siobhan Haughey, Torri Huske, Ruta Meilutyte, Tes Schouten, Sarah Sjostrom Marrit Steenbergen and Zhang Yufei. Veteran Australian sprinters Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell will race internationally for the first time in two years while former world champion Kylie Masse and multi-time world junior champion Lana Pudar are also entered.
The men’s field is highlighted by breaststroking superstar Adam Peaty set for a return to international competition after missing his second consecutive Worlds this year. He could meet three of his primary rivals, world champions Qin Haiyang, Nicolo Martinenghi, Arno Kamminga and Nic Fink. Chad le Clos, the 2012 Olympic champion in the 200 fly, is also set for Berlin after skipping Worlds.
The entry list does not include Sam Short, the new world champion in the 400 freestyle, but the Australian is set to compete during this brief tour of meets in Europe.
Additionally, German freestylers Florian Wellbrock and Lukas Martens will star for the home country while individual Tokyo Olympic medalists Kieran Smith (USA) and Brendon Smith (Australia) are seeking some big swims. Michael Andrew, who won three individual medals at the 2022 Worlds, will race internationally for the first time since narrowly missing a place on the Fukuoka team.
Of course, Beata Nelson of the United States and Dylan Carter of Trinidad and Tobago will be featured at these World Cup meets, beginning in Berlin, with the duo entering after winning the overall titles at last year’s World Cup. We’ll see how these two veterans can hold up as the series moves to the Olympic-distance course for one year.
You missed Kaylee McKeown who is entered in all stops and was swimmer of the meet at worlds
There’s a large Australian contingent swimming it seems including Cody Simpson