FINA Newsletter 20/2017: SWC 2017: World Aquatic Family gathers in China

Le Clos and Sjostrom confirm 2017 SWC overall title

In the spotlight

The 2017 FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup concluded last week in Singapore (November 19) as World champions Chad Le Clos (RSA) and Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) bagged the overall title and prize money available.

Both swimming greats had been leading the pool since the start of the season, in August 2017.

After an eight-leg circuit which stopped in Moscow, Berlin, Eindhoven, Hong Kong Doha, Beijing, Tokyo and Singapore, the top three of the event with corresponding prize money unfolds as follows:

Men
1. Chad Le Clos (RSA), 447 points - US$ 150,000
2. Vladimir Morozov (RUS), 333 points - US$ 100,000
3. Kirill Prigoda (RUS), 270 points - US$ 50,000

Women
1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 629 points - US$ 150,000
2. Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 482 points - US$ 100,000
3. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 299 points - US$ 50,000

This triumph was Le Clos’ fourth SWC overall title as he won in 2011, 2013 and 2014, while this was Sjostrom’s first ever overall victory of the event.

Both runners-up Vladimir Morozov (RUS) and Katinka Hosszu (HUN) have won the 2016 edition of the World Cup respectively. Hosszu had dominated the Series every year since 2012.

A total of 7 World Records (25m) were broken at the 2017 Swimming World Cup, all established by women.

In Moscow
Sarah Sjostrom                       50m freestyle – 23.10
                                                100m freestyle – 50.77
In Berlin
Ranomi Kromowidijojo             50m freestyle – 22.93
Katinka Hosszu                      100m IM – 56.51

In Eindhoven
Sarah Sjostrom                       100m freestyle – 50.58
                                                200m freestyle – 1:50.43
Mireia Belmonte                      400m IM – 4:18.94

Another 13 World Cup Records were also broken throughout the Series.

Take a look at the complete results book here

FINA Scholarship holder Sajan Prakash of India impress in Singapore SWC

FINA Scholarship holder Sajan Prakash of India clocked his best time last weekend in Singapore at the ultimate meet of the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup 2017, when he came fifth in the 200m butterfly in 1:54.49.

South Africa’s Chad Le Clos won the race in 1:49.25, while Japanese Daiya Seto in and Masaki Kaneko took silver and bronze in respectively 1:50.19 and 1:52.23.

Breaking the national records on four occasions during the World Cup 2017, Sajan Prakash is the most prolific swimmer in India to this day and represent a huge hope for his country, a market with vast potential for the sport.

Back at the training camp with his coach Miguel Lopez, Sajan came back on his great race alongside overall Series winner Chad Le Clos.

“My main aim is to achieve a world class performance in or before 2020 and I realised I am not too far to do so.

“I realised it’s just small things I need to improve, like I need be more athletic and improve my technical stuff inside the water. “I started working on small things technically which make a big difference, like improving on athleticism and being consistent and focused after every race helped me to achieve this time in 200m fly.” Sajan finds his motivation competing next to the biggest names in swimming.

“Since I have been competing in the same events than Chad, which is since 2014, I had never really been in the same line up with top swimmers like him or Daiya Seto.

“I respect their commitment to the sport and they are my inspiration at this level of swimming. It was great swimming next to these legends. They motivate to do many more things for my country.”

Read full interview