Swimming World Cup

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - After getting the fastest performance of the second meet of the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup in Stockholm (SWE), by winning the women’s 200m free on Day 1, Sarah Sjostroem (SWE) was again in evidence in the second finals’ session, getting the gold in the 100m free, in a time of 52.44. In the 400m free, she got the silver in 4:03.60, narrowly losing the race to Australia’s Angie Bainbridge (4:03.02). 

Other local successes in this second and last day in Stockholm included the triumph of Jennie Johansson in the women’s 50m breaststroke (30.05), the gold of Stefan Nystrand in the men’s 50m free (21.70), and the inevitable Therese Alshammar in the women’s 50m butterfly (25.23).

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Swimming World Cup

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Sarah Sjostroem was the hero of the first day of the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup, taking place in Stockholm (SWE), clocking the fastest time of the finals’ session in the women’s 200m free – 1:52.92 (954 points). The spectators in the Eriksdalsbadet complex were happy to see a local star approaching the World Cup record in this event, established in 2010 by Femke Heemskerk (NED, 1:52.42). The silver medallist, Australia’s Angie Bainbridge, leading until the 150m-mark, touched home in 1:53.03 (951 points), the second best performance of the day.

Swedish swimmers had more opportunities to shine in the women’s 100m breaststroke (victory of Jennie Johansson in 1:05.27), and in the women’s 100m butterfly (triumph of Therese Alshammar in 55.99). With this result, Alshammar (34 years old and winner of the overall World Cup in 2010) established the third best result among women, with 950 points. The Swedish “diva” added a second medal to her tally, by winning in the 50m free in a time of 23.80. Finally, in the men’s 100m free, Stefan Nystrand (who will turn 30 on October 20) got the gold in a slow time of 47.08.

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Swimming World Cup

DUBAI, UAE - The first leg of the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup was highlighted by the superb performances of South African Chad Le Clos (aged 19) winner of six events (100m, 200m and 400m individual medley, 100m and 200m butterfly and 200m backstroke). By doing so, Le Clos put his country ahead of the medal table, while China and Japan (five gold each) followed the African nation!

After winning three races on the first day, no one expected Le Clos to shine in the 100m butterfly at this level, especially at this stage of the season. Le Clos managed to beat his personal best in 50.66, performing also the best world time of the season. He advanced by 48 hundredths of a second Russian Evgeny Korotyshkin (51.14), the reigning world champion and record holder in this distance. The African continent got a second podium presence in this event, thanks to the bronze of Jason Dunford (KEN, 51.70). Le Clos was also the best in the 200m individual medley, touching first in 1:55.14, less than a second off his personal best (1:54.28). He beat for the fourth time in two days Dinko Jukic (AUT, 1:56.10), bronze medallist at the 2010 European Championships. Third place went to Japanese Yuma Kosaka in 1:56.93. In the 200m backstroke, Le Clos concluded his participation in Dubai, by getting the gold in 1:55.95 (personal best), in front of Brazilian Nelson Silva Junior (1:58.37) and Sweden's Kristian Kron (1:58.41).

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Swimming World Cup

DUBAI, UAE - Dubai acquires taste in organising international swimming events. After hosting the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) from December 15-19, 2010 the city continues this year by being part for the first time of the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup programme. 27 nations are in Dubai for the opening leg of the 2011 Series. The United Arab Emirates became the 19th country (and sixth Asian nation) and Dubai the 43rd city (and the seventh in Asia) to host a World Cup stage.   

On Day 1, three continents - Europe (six victories), Asia (six) and Africa (five) - shared the 17 events on the programme. Out of the 27 nations, 18 had a swimmer climbing the podium. And it looks like the Asian swimmers are well determined to impose themselves at this year's Series for the first time since 2002 with the introduction of the points table to establish the final individual rankings.

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