The local star Vladimir Morozov and Swedish swimming queen Sarah Sjostrom proceeded to claim gold and set World Cup records on the second day of the first leg of the FINA Swimming World Cup in Kazan (RUS).

Morozov won the men's 50m back in 24.43 (WCup record), beating once again (after the 50m free on Day 1) junior world champion, 19-year-old Michael Andrew (USA, 24.49). Mitchell Larkin (AUS) was third in 25.35. Morozov also battled it out in the 100m free, touching in 48.26, while another American Blake Pieroni came second in 48.30. Pieter Timmers (BEL) placed third (49.22). 

“My goal to win two races today was not easy to achieve. I had very strong rivals. Pieroni is an Olympic champion in the 4x100m free relay. But everything worked out. I could confirm my victories just on the last metres of the races thanks to good touching. I’m very happy with my results. Although it’s weird to swim almost at my best after a three-week break”, Morozov confessed. 


Vladimir Morozov (RUS, in white cap)

Sarah Sjostrom added two more gold medals to her Kazan collection, winning the 200m freestyle (1:55.98) and the 50m butterfly. In the latter, she set the World Cup record, clocking 25.39. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) finished second in 26.09, while Kimberly Buys (BEL) completed the podium (26.11).

In the women’s 100m breaststroke, Yulia Efimova (RUS) was just one hundredth of a second behind the WCup record of Alia Atkinson (JAM) set in 2015 (1:05.94 and 1:05.93 respectively). It was an all-Russian podium with Vitalina Simonova, second in 1:07.94, and Daria Chikunova in third (1:07.68).  

Another highlight among women was the full set of medals for Katinka Hosszu (HUN): gold in 400m IM, silver in 100m back and bronze in 200m free. In the 400m IM, Hosszu dominated from start to finish, touching in 4:37.82, well ahead of compatriot Zsuzsanna Jakabos (4:47.93) and local Irina Krivonogova (4:51.73). 

After Day 2, Katinka has eight races and six medals. And she is unstoppable.  

“I’ve been doing it for a long time. This is my seventh World Cup. I enjoy racing. I use the World Cup as training as well. It’s a lot of experience. I think I will get better, I know I can improve. It’s only September. Nobody is in the shape of their lives at this time. So, I’m pretty happy with my results. I do have eight places, but it’s still better for me to race than not to race. I like the new three-day format. It means I can swim more races. Besides, I love Kazan. I broke my first long course world record in 2015. So I have great memories from here”, Hosszu said. 

Among men, Mitch Larkin, claimed gold in 200m IM, just 10 minutes after his bronze finish in the 50m back. He clocked 1:59.47 and was followed by David Verraszto (HUN, 2:01.40) and Nikolay Sokolov (RUS, 2:03.33).

Larkin also won the 200m back on Day 1 (1:57.23). The Aussie, who had a very successful long course Commonwealth Games back in April, with four individual gold medals, also competed in the 50m pool at the Pan Pacific championships in the middle of August in Tokyo.  

“I had a two-week break and one week of training, and now I'm racing here. I feel good. But I'm still trying to get fit and hopefully racing in the World Cup I will be faster and faster". 

On the new format, he commented: “It's challenging. Long course is harder. It's good we have it in the first cluster. But I’m for some changes, because it adds a bit of variation. I like long course as well as short course, but I'm waiting for the short course in a couple of weeks”.

Rankings after Kazan Day 2:

MEN

1. MOROZOV Vladimir (RUS) 36 pts
2. ANDREW Michael (USA) 30
2. LARKIN Mitchell (AUS) 30
4. POTAPOV Iaroslav (RUS) 24
5. LE CLOS Chad (RSA) 21
5. LIMA Felipe (BRA) 21
7. VERRAZSTO David (HUN) 15
8. CHUPKOV Anton (RUS) 12
8. DUDAS Daniel (HUN) 12

WOMEN

1. HOSSZU Katinka (HUN) 36 pts
1. SJÖSTRÖM Sarah (SWE) 36
3. JAKABOS Zsuzsanna (HUN) 27
4. TOUSSAINT Kira (NED) 24
5. SIMONOVA Vitalina (RUS) 21
6. KROMOWIDJOJO Ranomi (NED) 18
7. CHINUKOVA Dariia (RUS) 15
7. HEEMSKERK Femke (NED) 15