After two highly successful meets in Guangzhou (CHN) and Budapest (HUN), 17 Olympic and 20 World champions are ready to race in Indianapolis (USA) on May 31-June 1 for the ultimate (3/3) leg of the FINA Champions Swim Series 2019.

Between them, the 50 swimmers in Indianapolis, representing 15 NF, have won 54 Olympic medals as well as 146 World medals.

The innovative competition schedule at the famous Indiana University (IU) Natatorium includes 28 individual events as well as two mixed relays spread over two days. The schedule unfolds as follows:

DAY 1 - Friday May 31 DAY 2 - Saturday June 1
1. 200m back (W)
2. 200m fly (M)
3. 100m fly (W)
4. 50m free (M)
5. 200m breast (W)
6. 100m back (M)
7. 400m free (W)
8. 50m fly (M)
9. 100m free (W)
10. 200m IM (M)
11. 50m breast (W)
12. 100m breast (M)
13. 50m back (W)
14. 200m free (M)
15. 4x100m free (mixed)
1. 200m back (M)
2. 200m fly (W)
3. 100m fly (M)
4. 50m free (W)
5. 200m breast (M)
6. 100m back (W)
7. 400m free (M)
8. 50m fly (W)
9. 100m free (M)
10. 200m IM (W)
11. 50m breast (M)
12. 100m breast (W)
13. 50m back (M)
14. 200m (W)
15. 4x100 Medley (mixed)

The launch of the brand new FINA Champions Swim Series aims at providing an additional opportunity for the swimming elite to race against each other in a professional and dynamic event.

After Guangzhou (CHN, April 27-28) and Budapest (HUN, May 11-12), the top athletes gather in the North American city with a long lasting swimming history as 18 World and 121 American records having been broken there.

Among the big names announced are Americans Anthony Ervin, Matt Grevers, Ryan Murphy, Michael Andrew, Leah Smith, Lilly King, Melanie Margallis, Molly Hannis and Kelsi Worrell Dahlia, Hungary's Katinka Hosszu Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden, Denmark's Pernille Blume, Etiene Medeiros of Brazil, Russia's Yulia Efimova, Canada's Kylie Masse and Africa's only women participant Farida Osman.

The international men's delegation also includes: Brazil's Joao Gomes, Kazakhstan's Dmitry Balandin, Russia's Vladimir Morozov and Anton Chupkov.

Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden has been to most successful swimmer of this new competition so far with a total of 9 gold medals (4 in Guangzhou and 5 in Budapest). Hungary's Katinka Hosszu has also shown top form at the two inaugural meets, adding 6 golds (3 in Guangzhou and 3 in Budapest) to her impressive champion's tally. Tough races are to be expected in the women's competition with a strong North American delegation.

In the men’s races, Pieter Timmers of Belgium, Anton Chupkov of Russia and Nicholas Santos of Brazil remain undefeated in their respective event.

Medal Table after Budapest

1. SWE Sarah Sjostrom 9 G 3 S   12
2. HUN Katinka Hosszu 6 G 2 S 1 B 9
3. GBR Ben Proud 4 G     4
4. RUS Yulia Efimova 3 G   1 B 4
5. RUS Anton Chupkov 2 G 2 S   4
6. RUS Anastasia Fesikova 2 G 1 S   3
7. BRA Joao Gomes 2 G 1 S   3
8. BRA Nicholas Santos 2 G 1 S   3
9. BEL Pieter Timmers 2 G   2 B 4
10 NED Ranomi Kromowidjojo 2 G   2 B

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The FINA Champions Swim Series is an invitation-only event, where Olympic and World Championships medallists, current World Record holders and leaders of the swimming world rankings are given every opportunity to shine and benefit from attractive prize money. Unlike traditional swimming events, the Series offers finals only (with four swimmers per final). A new approach to sport presentation and entertainment is also a major part of the event, so spectators on site and fans around the world can enjoy an unforgettable swimming spectacle.

2019 FINA Champions Swim Series calendar:

1.    Guangzhou (CHN) – April 27-28
2.    Budapest (HUN) – May 11-12
3.    Indianapolis (USA) – May 31-June 1

All three meets of the Champions Swim Series are qualifying events for both the FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.