More than 960 of the world’s swimming elite, representing 178* countries, are arriving in Hangzhou, one of the seven ancient capitals of China, a hub for modern economy, culture and history that has a total population of more than 9.4 million.
In 4 days, the swimmers will take off the blocks at the Hangzhou Olympic and International Expo Centre for the six-day 14th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). 34 individual events and 12 relays are on the programme of the short-course World Championships. Heat sessions will start at 9am every day, while the finals will be held at 7pm.
You can follow the action LIVE on FINAtv, following this SCHEDULE.
But to warm-up for these outstanding performances, let’s take a look at the Entry Lists.
China is naturally the biggest delegation in Hangzhou with 42 athletes. Wang Shun is ready to defend his 200m IM title which he won in Windsor (CAN) two years ago, while Windsor 2016 100m back bronze medallist Xu Jianyu will also be taking the plunge. Other Chinese bronze medallist from Windsor, Zhang Yufei, will defend her bronze medal in the 200m fly.
Olympic and World champion of South Africa, Chad Le Clos, will be defending his Windsor gold medals in all three butterfly events, while 50m free winner Jesse Puts of the Netherlands will also try and preserve his title.
In the women’s competition, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu registered for her pet events, namely the three IM events (100m, 200m, 400m) which she topped in Windsor. Other strong contented for the IM medals is Australia’s Emily Seebhom. She recently achieved great results at the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018.
Short-course World champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherland is also present in Hangzhou to defend her title in the 50m free, as well as her silver medal in the 100m free.
World champion Federica Pellegrini (ITA) is one of the favourites for the 200m freestyle as she won in Windsor.
100m breast short-course champion Alia Atkinson of Jamaica will take the departure in the same event this year, while she will try and better her silver title in the 50m breast.
See complete Entry Lists here
The participating countries are: Afghanistan, Algeria, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, American Samoa, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Burundi, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bahrain, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cameroun, Canada, Chile, China, Côte Ivoire, Cook Islands, Colombia, Comores, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Spain, Estonia, Ethiopia, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Great Britain, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guam,Guyana Haiti, Hong Kong, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Iraq, Island, British Virgin Islands, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Kosovo, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Libya, Lebanon, Saint Lucia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, St Maarten, Macao, Madagascar, Morocco, Malawi, Moldova, Maldives, Mongolia, Marshall Islands, Macedonia, Mali, Malta, Mozambique, Miramar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Netherlands, Nepal, Nigeria, Northern Marina Island, Norway, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Palestine, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, DPR Korea, Puerto Ricco, Qatar, Romania, South Africa, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, San Marino, Solomon Islands, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Surinam, Slovakia, Sweden, Eswatini, Syria, Tanzania, Turks and Caicos, Tonga,Thailand, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Timor Leste, Togo, Chinese Taipei, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, St Vincent & Grenadines, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe