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Frenchman Leon Marchand earned a trio of victories at the first stop of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Shanghai and is set to make waves in Incheon. Archive photo via Jack Spitser/Spitser Photography
Frenchman Leon Marchand earned a trio of victories at the first stop of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Shanghai and is set to make waves in Incheon.
The athlete hotel for the second leg of the series in Incheon, South Korea, is reportedly a “disaster,” lacking hot water, cleaning services and has mold.
Swissman Noe Ponti picked up a pile of Francs at the opening stop of the Swimming World Cup in Shanghai, China thanks in part to his World Record bonus.
Rebecca Meder broke the South African Record in the 200 IM in long course at the Olympics; on Sunday she broke the record in short course as well.
In a friendly chat with fellow World Cup competitor Duncan Scott of Great Britain, Swiss ace Noe Ponti predicted his heats World Record in the 50m fly.
October 23rd, 2024
Stop #2 of the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup is upon us, with prelims action in Incheon, South Korea kicking off this evening at 8:30pm Eastern. Based on the entries, we’re expecting some exciting match-ups to carry the momentum from last weekend in Shanghai, with many of the fields remaining intact.
That means we’re set to see Frenchman Leon Marchand try to improve upon his gold medal-winning performances in the 100m/200m/400m IM events, although he’ll now see Japan’s world champion Daiya Seto in the lineup this time around.
Seto most recently put up a time of 3:59.79 in the 400m IM at a domestic meet, a time which would have beaten Marchand’s 4:00.03 from Shanghai.
30-year-old Seto has publicly stated that a record 7th consecutive Short Course World Championships 400m IM title is in his sights, so potentially beating the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder in the event this week could be a big confidence push in that direction.
Marchand is the current points leader out of stop one, but the top men’s money earner was Switzerland’s Noe Ponti.
23-year-old Ponti fired off a new World Record in the men’s 50m fly (21.67) to grab a smooth $10,000 bonus and earn the most cash out of the pack. He’ll seek to improve upon that historic performance this time around.
Additional men’s participants include Olympic medalist Kim Woomin, the Michael Palfrey-trained Korean star who took 400m free bronze in Paris. Although we’re waiting on the entries book to be published, it’s likely Kim will contest the 200m/400m/800m free events over the next 3 days.
Palfrey made noise in Paris by saying ‘Go Korea’ despite also on staff for Swimming Australia at the Olympic Games. He was later excused from his post at Swimming Australia although his individual coaching credentials remain intact.
Kim’s teammate and fellow freestyle ace Hwang Sunwoo is also among the Korean entrants, as are national record holders Kim Seoyeong, Lee Eunji and Lee Ho-Joon.
Hwang is coming off a solid outing of 1:45.03 LCM 200m freestyle at the 105th Korean National Sports Festival so the 21-year-old Olympian appears in form.
China’s arsenal will include several heavy hitters from Shanghai including World Record holder Pan Zhanle, 6-time medalist from Paris Zhang Yufei and Asian Record holders Tang Qianting and Yu Yiting.
The European continent will also have strong representation to the tune of Brits Duncan Scott and James Guy, two-time Finnish national record setter from last week Laura Lahtinen as well as Italian Olympic champions Thomas Ceccon and Nicolo Martinenghi.
Oceania also has athletes ready to rumble with Lewis Clareburt, who broke 2 New Zealand records in Shanghai, Aussie Isaac Cooper and last week’s 200m breast champion Joshua Yong also of Australia.
Women’s points and money leader Kate Douglass heads up the American squad and she’ll be joined by Trenton Julian and Beata Nelson among others. Douglass won a quartet of events including the 200m breast, 100m IM, 50m fly and 200m IM.
Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.
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