Speed Show: World Cup Opener Will Feature World-Record Holder in 18 Events; Gretchen Walsh Owns Four
How deep is the field for next week’s opening stop of the World Aquatics World Cup circuit? Eighteen of the events scheduled to be contested in Carmel (Ind.) will feature the reigning world-record holder. With 34 events scheduled for the three-day competition (Oct. 10-12), that means more than half of the disciplines will have the fastest athlete in history on the starting blocks. Nine athletes racing in Carmel account for the 18 world records.
When World Aquatics released the Notable Nine for the World Cup tour, it was obvious there was plenty of firepower scheduled to compete during the circuit’s visit to North America. But when the entry lists for the Carmel meet was released, it became clear that expectations were surpassed. With no World Short Course Championships scheduled for this year, it is obvious that the top athletes in the sport will use the World Cup to showcase their short-course skills.
World Cup Entry Lists (Carmel)
Here is a look at the world-record holders who will compete during the first stop in Carmel:
Kate Douglass
- 200 Breaststroke (2:12.50)
- 200 IM (2:01.63)
Luke Hobson
Leon Marchand
Summer McIntosh
- 400 Freestyle (3:50.25)
- 200 Butterfly (1:59.32)
- 400 IM (4:15.48)
Noe Ponti
- 50 Butterfly (21.32)
- 100 Butterfly (47.71)
Daiya Seto
- 400 Individual Medley (3:54.81)
Ilya Shymanovich
Regan Smith
- 50 Backstroke (25.23)
- 100 Backstroke (54.02)
- 200 Backstroke (1:58.04)
Gretchen Walsh
- 50 Freestyle (22.83)
- 50 Butterfly (23.94)
- 100 Butterfly (52.71)
- 100 IM (55.11)
