The most noteworthy race today was the women's 100m Individual Medley, because World Cup point ranking leader Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) was beaten Katinka Hosszu (HUN), who follows the Swedish ace by 15 points. In addition, this race was also competed by home nation star Rikako Ikee and Alia Atkinson (JAM), the World Record holder in the 50m breaststroke.
Though Sjostrom took the lead from the start with a powerful swim, the winner was Hosszu in 57.25. Hosszu reversed her position in the breaststroke, then in the freestyle she could defend her lead to grab a narrow victory (0.03 seconds), while Sjostrom grabbed the silver medal in 57.28 and Ikee of Japan secured the third place in 58.17.
Hosszu also won the women's 200m butterfly in 2:03.0 allowing her ended the first day of the Tokyo leg with the good results. Though Sjostrom was defeated by Hosszu in the 100m Individual Medley, in the 50m freestyle she managed to hold on the victory in 23.26 against the Dutch Ranomi Kromowidjojo.
"I had a lot of fun and it was a very close race with Katinka Hosszu. I will swim much faster in Singapore. Anyway, I am happy with my result and am excited to race tomorrow," Sarah said.
"It was really good for today's results. I could prepare enough to be in good condition and focus on my short-course races. Thinking about the Olympic Games in two year-time, it was nice to be here," Katinka said.
Men's point leader Vladimir Morozov (RUS) earned the gold medal in the men's 100 Individual Medley in 50.26 (This time was the tie world record established in the Eindhoven leg).
Morozov defeated Asian Games champion Wang Shun (CHN) as well as 19 year-old Michael Andrew of the USA. He was also the fasted in the 50m freestyle in 20.49 and established a new World Cup Record. He then defeated Australian Kyle Chalmers who is the Rio 2016 Olympic Games champion. This race brought him loads of points and considerably strengthened his ranking leading position.
Russian Kirill Prigoda ,who has been performing well in the Cluster 3, competed in the men's 100m breaststroke with compatriot Anton Chupkov, Japanese Yasuhiro Koseki and Ippei Watanabe (200m breaststroke World Record holder).
Koseki, Prigoda and Yan Zibei were really fast in the first half of the race. Prigoda's victory was due to the slight difference by a touch in 56.58. Koseki marked 56.68 to place second, and Yan took bronze in 56.96.
In addition, Femke Heemskerk, the great Dutch veteran swimmer, won the 400m freestyle in 4:01.29.
In the men's 400m freestyle, the winner was Rio 2016 champion Mack Horton of Australia in 3:40.58, turning the table in the last 100m to snatch glory from Japan's Kosuke Hagino.
In the women's 50m backstroke, Kira Toussaint defeated compatriot Ranomi Kromowidjojo by 0.03 second (26.21).
Chinese Xu Jiayu beat Australian Mitchell Larkin to win the gold medal in 1:48.32 in the men's 200m backstroke.
"Every time I race, my swim and stroke improve and I am getting better with experience," Xu said.
It was Japanese Takeshi Kawamoto who claimed victory in 50.28 in the men's 100m butterfly.
Yuliya Efimova (RUS), third in the 2018 ranking, pulled away from the start and won 200m breaststroke in 2:16.29.
Just as today, 12 events will be competed tomorrow in Tokyo for the second day of the sixth leg of the FINA Swimming World Cup.