SWC 2016: Olympic stars to shine at Beijing leg of the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup

Olympic champion Katinka Hosszu of Hungary and a group of Olympic medallists including South African Chad Le Clos, Xu Jiayu and Fu Yuanhui of China together with 110 swimmers from 22 countries will perform at the fourth leg of the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup 2016 – in Beijing to be held on Sept.30 - Oct. 1.

At the opening press conference held on Thursday September 29 at the Water Cube, Hosszu, who snatched three gold medals at the Rio Olympics and continued competing at all the World Cup legs after the Olympic Games, said she would like to perform the way she did the first time back in 2008.

"Beijing played a very important role in my career. The first time I came to Beijing was for the 2008 Olympic Games. I was 19 years old. After the London Olympic Games, I came to Beijing and got my nickname - the “Iron Lady”. Now, coming back to the Water Cube again as the three-time Olympic champion, I am really happy to be here and happy to race again in this symbolic venue," Hosszu said.

Responding to the question why she keeps competing at all the FINA World Cup legs right after the Olympic Games while some swimmers took long vacation, Hossze said: "I really love racing, so for me I don't need to go away from swimming. I do what I like. And the long course and short course competition is different. I just rest in betweens."

Le Clos, runner-ups in men's 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly, said: "It was disappointing that I got two silver medals in very close races in Rio. But it was not too bad that our country South Africa had four medals in total. For me the most important is to go back to water to prepare for the next Olympic Games. I will be back with more golds in Tokyo."

Fu Yuanhui of China, Olympic bronze medallist in the women's 100m backstroke, who became a social media star with her eccentric personality and exaggerated facial expressions, said she will compete in some new events.

"I will not forget my favourite event - the backstroke - but I will try the 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle and 100m medley as a start after the Rio Olympic Games. Don't expect me to win something because I did not train these days," Fu said.

The FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup kicked off on August 26 in Paris-Chartres, Francen shortly after the Rio Olympic Games and concludes on October 30 in Hong Kong.