Cesar Cielo Filho (BRA) and Oussama Mellouli (TUN), the two Olympic champions participating in the first meet of the 2008 FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup that took place in Belo Horizonte (BRA) from October 10-12, did not disappoint the thousands of spectators present at the Minas Tenis Clube. Cielo Filho, the local hero after winning the men’s 50m free in Beijing, got two victories, also in the shorter distance of the programme, and in the 100m free. Mellouli, the Olympic 1500m champion, obtained three gold medals in Brazil – men’s 200m free, 1500m free and 400m individual medley.
Amongst men, the Australian Christian Sprenger was the ‘Most Valuable Swimmer’ of the meet, with three breaststroke wins and the best male performance of the competition with 981 points in the 100m (58.19). Randall Bal (USA), the 2007 overall winner of the Series, won the 50m and 200m backstroke, while Thiago Pereira (BRA) was the best in the 100m and 200m individual medley.
In the women’s field, Katheryn Meaklim, from South Africa, was the most golden winner of the meet with four victories – 400m and 800m free, as well as the 200m and 400m individual medley. On the Australian side, Marieke Guehrer was fastest in three races (100m free, 50m and 100m butterfly), having established the best female performance of the competition in the 50m butterfly (25.63, corresponding to 991 points). Fabiola Molina (BRA), despite her 33 years of age, continues to shine at the highest level, with three triumphs in front of the home crowd – 50m and 100m backstroke, 100m individual medley.
In the medal chart, Brazil led the operations with 11 gold medals, followed by Australia (six) and USA and South Africa (both countries with five victories).