SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 20: (L-R) Regan Smith of the United States, Noe Ponti of Switzerland, Kate … [+]
The 2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup series has already excited swim fans, with three short course world records shattered before reaching the third stop in Singapore. This time, athletes are competing in a 25-meter pool, known as short course meters, rather than the long course events they swam in at the Paris Olympic Games. This format also differs from the college season, as the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships take place in short course yards.
The first stop of the World Cup was in Shanghai, China, from October 18-20. After that, athletes packed their bags and headed to Incheon, South Korea, where they stayed until October 26, before moving on to Singapore for stop three from October 31 to November 2. With more events on the horizon, these athletes also have the chance to earn some cash.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 20: Noe Ponti of Switzerland celebrates after breaking the world record of … [+]
Switzerland’s Noè Ponti set a new world record in the men’s 50 butterfly in Shanghai with a time of 21.67 seconds. At just 23 years old, he previously won a bronze medal in the 100 butterfly in Tokyo. However, he was unable to achieve the same level of success at the 2024 Paris Games, finishing fourth in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 200 butterfly.
In Shanghai, Ponti narrowly missed winning the 100 medley by just 0.01 seconds, with France’s Léon Marchand—who secured four gold medals in Paris—taking the victory. The two faced off again in Incheon, where they tied in the same event. In Incheon, Ponti also won the 100 butterfly with a time of 48.81, despite his goggles falling off right after his dive.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 18: Kate Douglass of the United States competes in the Women’s 200m … [+]
Representing the U.S., 22-year-old Kate Douglass is maintaining her momentum from Paris. In Incheon, she broke her first individual world record, winning the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:14.16 and shattering a 15-year-old record previously held by American swimmer Rebecca Soni.
Douglass remains undefeated so far at the World Cup. In Tokyo, she won bronze in the 200 medley. She also claimed gold in the 200 breaststroke and the 4×100 medley relay, along with silver in the 200 medley and the 4×100 freestyle relay in Paris.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 19: Regan Smith of the United States competes in the Women’s 100m … [+]
American swimmer Regan Smith broke the 100 backstroke world record in Incheon with a time of 54.41 seconds. The 22-year-old, known for wearing pink mittens before her races, set a new record, beating the previous time of 54.56 seconds held by Australia’s Kaylee McKeown.
Smith has a total of eight Olympic medals from the Tokyo and Paris Games, including two golds, five silvers and one bronze. Her two gold medals were in the 4×100 medley and the 4×100 mixed medley in Paris. In the 100 backstroke at the Paris Games, she secured silver, finishing behind McKeown, who won gold.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 20: Silver Medalists Regan Smith (L) of the United States and Noe Ponti of … [+]
Swimmers can earn money for their performances at the World Cup. According to World Aquatics, they can compete in as many events as they choose at each stop. However, only the top three results (total points based on position and performance) count toward the overall score for that stop. Rankings are established separately for men and women. The top 20 scores will receive cash prizes for each stop: the athlete ranked first will earn $12,000, while the athlete ranked 20th will receive $4,000.
At the end of the World Cup, there will be an overall ranking based on the results from all the stops. Overall prize money will be awarded to the top eight athletes of each gender. The swimmer ranked first overall will receive $100,000, while the swimmer in eighth place will receive $10,000. Additionally, swimmers can earn an extra $10,000 for breaking a world record or for winning the same event at all three stops.
So far, Regan Smith and Kate Douglass lead the women’s standings at the Cup, while Léon Marchand and Noè Ponti lead the men. Looking ahead, U.S. Olympians Claire Weinstein and Katie Grimes are scheduled to swim at the final stop in Singapore. Grimes is also competing for the University of Virginia this NCAA season.
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