The 18th FINA World Championships in Gwangju (KOR), which takes place once every two years, has just ended, however the season for top swimmers is not over.

As the swimming elite has travelled the world to the World’s, the 31st edition of the FINA Swimming World Cup kicks-off in Tokyo, Japan, the next Olympic host city in summer 2020.

The Swimming World Cup 2019 will be held in 50m pool and all legs are qualifying events to the Olympics. With no time difference with Gwangju, many World Championships medallists are gathering at the at Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Centre for this prestigious and top level Series from August 2-4.

Blake Pieroni and Andrew Wilson from the U.S., Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys, and Hungary's 'Iron Lady' Katinka Hosszu attended today’s press conference in Tokyo.

Hosszu has won two golds (for 4 straight World Championships) in the 200m and 400m IM in Gwangju.

From the host country, Japan, the three Gwangju medallists Daiya Seto, Katsuhiro Matsumoto, and Yui Ohashi were on stage.

FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu opened the conference: 

“I am happy to be able to come and stage a leg of the World Cup in Tokyo for the 10th time. We are looking forward to the outstanding performances of the swimmers.”

The athletes shared the enthusiasm:

“It is my first time competing in the Swimming World Cup. Hopefully I will have a good race, just like my performance at the World Championships,” Wilson said.

“I want to enjoy as much as possible because I don’t always swim this event. I will do my best to get a good time,” Pieroni said.

“I am the same as Andrew, and will participate in the World Cup for the first time. I hope to enjoy swimming races with rivals in the world,” Rapsys said.

“As for the World Championships, I hope to compete next to Katinka and have a good race. I look forward to the competition,” Ohashi said.

“I have a good feeling and I am in a good physical condition. As I participate only in the 400m IM, I aim at a good time,” Seto said.

“I will swim so that I can finish the summer season well. I want to have a fun race with Rapsys,” Matsumoto said.

“This is the 7th time we are racing in Tokyo. I didn't think I would swim with Yui so early, but I want to have a good swim and fun,” Hosszu said.

The Swimming World Cup in Tokyo is composed of 34 events, 16 events per gender and two mixed relays.