The FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2008 has reached Europe, where three final stages take place until mid-November starting with a Moscow stop this weekend. The ‘Olympiisky’ Swimming Pool will welcome, in the spirit of the World Cup, a combination of international stars and top swimmers from the region and host nation. Headliners include Olympic champion Oussama Mellouli (TUN), who continues his arduous but very successful World Cup marathon that has already generated 18 victories. The top two ranked women will also be in Moscow, namely Marieke Guehrer (AUS), who holds a vast lead of 100 points, and Therese Alshammar (SWE) in second with 45 points.

The men’s rankings are much tighter, and all three leaders will be present in Moscow to continue aiming for the US$100,000 prize accompanying overall victory. As of now it’s an all-Australia affair, with Christian Sprenger leading (60 points), Robert Hurley hovering in second (56 points), and Matt Jaukovic in third (52 points). It remains to be seen whether Sprenger can retain his lead while being trailed by some of Australia’s next generation of greats, especially considering double points will be awarded at the final stop in Berlin. Cameron van der Burgh (RSA), also swimming in Moscow, is 4th ranked with 50 points, still a relatively negligible difference.

Other guests of honour in Moscow include the 4th ranked woman Melissa Ingram (NZL), Asian and Southeast Asian Games star Tao Li (SIN), who took 5th in Beijing for the 100m butterfly, as well as Olympian Igor Borysik (UKR), dual breaststroke medallist at the 2008 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Manchester. Olympian Ryosuke Irie (JPN), a national backstroke record-holder, will swim, as will Stefan Nystrand (SWE) and Darian Townsend (RSA). Australian Olympians Sophie Edington, Ashley Delaney, Nicholas Ffrost, Sally Foster and Alice Mills are on the bill, as are Kristel Kobrich (CHI), Fabiola Molina (BRA) and many more.

Fans can access coverage of the finals via free LIVE streaming on the FINA website, and witness some of the best test their endurance for glory and lucrative prize money. Competition dates:

Belo Horizonte (BRA): October 10-12, 2008
Durban (RSA): October 17-18, 2008
Sydney (AUS): October 25-26, 2008
Singapore (SIN): November 1-2, 2008
Moscow (RUS): November 8-9, 2008
Stockholm (SWE):  November 11-12, 2008
Berlin (GER): November 15-16, 2008