Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) and Vladimir Morozov (RUS) are the first provisional leaders of the 2018 edition of the FINA Swimming World Cup, after the first leg of the competition, held in Kazan (RUS) from September 7-9. The Swedish star, winner of the series in 2017, concluded the Russian leg with 60 points, while the local star amassed 54 points. This initial meet was highlighted by seven World Cup records.

Sjostrom won five races in Kazan’s Aquatics Palace – 50m, 100m and 200m free, plus the 50m and 100m fly – getting the best women’s performance of the meet precisely in the 50m free (23.83, a new World Cup Record). Her winning performances in the 50m fly (25.39) and 100m fly (57.42) were also new records of the competition, held in a 50m-pool.

Among women, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), winner of the World Cup from 2012 to 2016, was also successful in Kazan, with five victories – 400m free, 200m back, 200m fly, 200m and 400m IM. She is the provisional third best in the ranking, behind Russia’s Yulia Efimova (winner of the 50m and 100m breast).

In the men’s field, Morozov (second of the overall ranking in 2017) won three races in Kazan: 50m and 100m free, and 50m back. For the latter, he got the second best performance of the meet, after clocking 24.43, a new World Cup record. In the 50m free, Morozov also improved the best time of the competition, in a solid 21.49.

His compatriot Anton Chupkov was the best in the 100m and 200m breast. In the longer distance, he established the best male performance of the competition, in a new World Cup record of 2:07.59. Iaroslav Potapov completed the Russian harvest, with two titles in the 400m and 1500m free.

Chad Le Clos, from South Africa, and the best in 2017, triumphed in the 200m fly, while Mitch Larkin (AUS) was also a multi-medallist in Kazan – gold in the 100m and 200m back, and 200m IM.

The seventh World Cup record of the competition came from Andrii Govorov (UKR), in the men’s 50m fly – 22.87.

Other countries with gold-medal winners were Brazil (Felipe Lima, men’s 50m breast), China (Chanzhen Zhou, women’s 800m free), Netherlands (Kira Toussaint, women’s 50m and 100m back), and USA (Blake Pieroni, men’s 200m free; Michael Andrew, men’s 100m fly).

The second meet of the 2018 edition of the FINA Swimming World Cup will take place in Doha (QAT) from September 13-15.

Winners in Kazan (RUS):

50m free: Men – Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 21.49 (WCR); Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 23.83 (WCR)
100m free: Men – Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 48.26; Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 52.99
200m free: Men – Blake Pieroni (USA) 1:47.32; Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 1:55.98
400m free: Men – Iaroslav Potapov (RUS) 3:54.78; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 4:12.09
800m free: Women – Chanzhen Zhou (CHN) 8:35.03
1500m free: Men – Iaroslav Potapov (RUS) 15:27.92
50m back: Men – Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 24.43 (WCR); Women – Kira Toussaint (NED) 28.18
100m back: Men – Mitch Larkin (AUS) 53.99; Women – Kira Toussaint (NED) 59.80
200m back: Men – Mitch Larkin (AUS) 1:57.23; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:10.13
50m breast: Men – Felipe Lima (BRA) 26.90; Women – Yulia Efimova (RUS) 30.92
100m breast: Men – Anton Chupkov (RUS) 59.53; Women – Yulia Efimova (RUS) 1:05.94
200m breast: Men – Anton Chupkov (RUS) 2:07.59 (WCR); Women – Vitalina Simonova (RUS) 2:23.86
50m fly: Men – Andrii Govorov (UKR) 22.87 (WCR); Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 25.39 (WCR)
100m fly: Men – Michael Andrew (USA) 51.96; Women – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 57.42 (WCR)
200m fly: Men – Chad Le Clos (RSA) 1:56.58; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:08.93
200m IM: Men – Mitch Larkin (AUS) 1:59.47; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:12.71
400m IM: Men – David Verraszto (HUN) 4:20.68; Women – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 4:37.82

4x100m free mixed: Netherlands 3:27.42
4x100m medley mixed: Netherlands 3:46.10

WCR – World Cup Record

Best performers in Kazan:

MEN
1. CHUPKOV Anton (RUS) 978 points, 2:07.59, 200m breast
2. MOROZOV Vladimir (RUS) 952 points, 24.43, 50m back
3. ANDREW Michael (USA) 945 points, 24.49, 50m back

WOMEN
1. SJOSTROM Sarah (SWE) 979 points, 23.83, 50m free
2. EFIMOVA Yulia (RUS) 919 points, 1:05.94, 100m breast
3. TOUSSAINT Kira (NED) 917 points, 59.80, 100m back

Top-3 rankings after leg 1 (Kazan, RUS)

MEN
1. MOROZOV Vladimir (RUS) 54 pts
2. CHUPKOV Anton (RUS) 48
3. ANDREW Michael (USA) 42

WOMEN
1. SJOSTROM Sarah (SWE) 60 pts
2. EFIMOVA Yulia (RUS) 42
3. HOSSZU Katinka (HUN) 36
3. TOUSSAINT Kira (NED) 36

Complete calendar of the 2018 FINA Swimming World Cup:

Cluster 1 (50m-pool)
1.    Kazan (RUS) – September 7-9
2.    Doha (QAT) – September 13-15

Cluster 2 (25m-pool)
3.    Eindhoven (NED) – September 28-30
4.    Budapest (HUN) – October 4-6

Cluster 3 (25m-pool)
5.    Beijing (CHN) – November 2-4
6.    Tokyo (JPN) – November 9-11
7.    Singapore (SGP) – November 15-17