FINA/AIRWEAVE WORLD CUP SERIES (EUROPE) THIS COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING BIG! BY TAYLOR BRIEN • PHOTO BY SIPA USA

The 2017 FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup Series splashed into a record-breaking start in August with an astounding seven world records. And that was only after one of the three clusters of meets being held in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. By comparison, the entire series last year (nine meets) featured only three world record performances...while the 2015 series (eight meets) didn’t feature any world records! The first cluster of meets took place in Europe—Moscow (Aug. 2-3), (Aug. 6-7) and (Aug. 11-12)—to be followed by the second cluster in Hong Kong (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) and (Oct. 4-5), then concluding with the third cluster in (Nov. 10-11), (Nov. 14- 15) and Singapore (Nov. 18-19). At stake is prize money reaching $2 million (U.S.), with varying financial rewards given to the top six swimmers in each individual event ($1,500 for first, $1,000 for second and so on down the line) as well as $10,000 bonuses available for each world record performance!

After the first of three clusters of meets for the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup Series, Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom has already earned $50,000 (U.S.)...with the prospect of winning much, much more! Headlining the world record charge has been Swedish sprint phenomenon Sarah Sjostrom, who finished the first cluster of meets in first place with 266 points. The 24-year-old posted four world records in the 50, 100 and 200 meter freestyles (23.10 and 50.77 in Moscow; 50.58 in Eindhoven; and 50.58 and 1:50.43 in Eindhoven). Adding to the world record star power were Olympic gold medalists Katinka Hosszu (), Ranomi Kromowidjojo () and Mireia Belmonte (). Hosszu lowered her own 100 IM world record to 56.51 in Berlin, but later surrendered her 400 IM standard to Belmonte (4:18.94) in Eindhoven. Meanwhile, Kromowidjojo lowered Sjostrom’s 50 free world record to 22.93 in Berlin, becoming the first woman to break 23 seconds. Hosszu, who has won the World Cup series a whopping five years in a row, is currently in second place in the title race behind Sjostrom with 176 points, while Kromowidjojo and Belmonte are tied for third with 122. The overall winner at the end of the eight meets will receive an additional $100,000 to go with his/her earnings from each series stop. After Cluster 1, Sjostrom has earned $50,000, with Hosszu taking $35,000. Currently, no world records have been broken on the men’s side, but the competition has been close! South Africa’s Chad le Clos sits atop the leaderboard with 159 points...and $50,000. Russian teammates Kirill Prigoda and Vladimir Morozov each have 93 points for second place, with Prigoda earning $35,000 and Morozov $30,000. Morozov (2016) and le Clos (2011, 2013, 2014) have been previous title winners.

TOTAL ACCESS MEMBERS: For all the latest results and stories for all three clusters of the 2017 FINA World Cup Series on Swimming World’s website, go to: https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/meet/2017-fina-world-cup