Dubai: The World’s best swimmers started arriving in Dubai today ahead of the last round of the fiercely competitive Fina/airweave Swimming World Cup which will be held this weekend, November 6-7.
After a thrilling competition in Doha, the swimmers are in top form and based on the results in Qatar, Dubai is set for one of the most exciting swimming competitions ever seen at the Hamdan Sports Complex.
With no less than 20 Gold medallists from the 2015 World Championships, as well as 29 minor medallists in their midst, the talent on display is second to none.
Australia’s Emily Seebohm and Mitch Larkin were among those arriving today after again topping the Fina points table for the highest point-scoring swims in Doha, with Seebohm only just missing a new world record in the 100-metre backstroke, finishing just .22 outside of the mark set in the suit era in 2009.
Seebohm said: “This is the first real Fina World Cup that I’ve done and it’s been a really cool experience. I’m looking forward to another great meet in Dubai this weekend.”
After winning the 50-metre backstroke, dead-heating for the gold in the men’s 100-metre, Larkin took his third gold and a clean sweep of the backstroke medals with a brilliant swim in the 200-metre.
Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu of Hungary was one of the first to arrive today, no doubt after paying excess baggage charges after collecting her seven medal haul from Doha which included three gold medals. Hosszu has an unassailable lead in the competition, and will take her fourth consecutive overall Swimming World Cup title this weekend.
The action in the pool starts on Friday with the heats at 9.30am. In the afternoon a Children’s Swimming Gala will be held for local swimmers, before the finals at 6pm. The schedule is repeated on Saturday. Tickets are Dh50 (Dh184) per day and are available at the door. Entry for children under 12 is free.
The 2015 Swimming World Cup is being held over eight legs, and three clusters, with men and women vying for prize money and points in each leg and cluster. The overall male and female points winners will also take home $100,000. The Swimming World Cup this year is being held in a 50-metre pool for the first time, as the event also serves as an Olympic qualifying event.
For more information see the Facebook page: FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup- Dubai UAE.
