Four days after the FINA Swimming World Cup 2019 first leg ended in Tokyo, Japan, top swimmers didn’t stop their pace and came to Jinan, China to continue their season.

The FINA Swimming World Cup 2019, which is held in 50m pool and all legs are qualifying events to the Olympics, includes seven legs in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Jinan is the second leg of the Series which runs from August 8-10.

Big names include Hungary’s ‘Iron Lady’ Katinka Hosszu, Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys, Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson and so on.

Hosszu, who won two golds in the 200m and 400m IM in Gwangju World Championships and collected three golds in Tokyo, will show her strength in Jinan.

“I will participate in five or six events here in Jinan,” said Hosszu. “We were just in Japan last week. I do like to get back into racing right away, and it will be hard to train now. It’s really fun to travel and race and come to China to see Chinese fans.”

“I’ve been taking part in the Swimming World Cup for seven years now. I use it a lot in my preparation and it works a lot for me. I think it is also a good thing that it’s a long course competition now.”

Atkinson, who won the women’s 50m breast gold in Tokyo, will participate in three events in Jinan.

“I’m a bit tired from Gwangju and Tokyo. But with the rest in the last four days I warmed up and just want to see what I can do in Jinan. I am hoping to do more. I want a gold in 50m, and I am hoping to get on the podium for the 100m as well.”

Aussie veteran Emily Seebohm, who missed the World Championships, is also here in Jinan.

“I didn’t go to the worlds. So I am not as tired as the others. I am hoping for some fast competition. It’s my first time here and I hope I can enjoy it.”

China send 29 swimmers to participate the Jinan leg. Gwangju World champion Xu Jiayu and silver medallist Ye Shiwen are in good form and will take part in the World Cup at home. Wang Shun, Fu Yuanhui and Liu Xiang are also in the list.

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