A Compact cluster with three weeks of
racing in three exciting cities animates the international swimming calendar
following the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan
The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup
2023 will visit three European cities over three consecutive weeks with three
days of action-packed long course (50m) racing at each stop this October.
The compact event series kicks off
again in Berlin (GER) from 6-8 October before heading to Athens (GRE) from
13-15 October and finishing off in Budapest (HUN) from 20-22 October.
The upcoming World Aquatics Swimming
World Cup 2023 season begins in familiar Berlin where the German capital has
held 18 events since 2000.
German freestyle distance ace Florian
Wellbrock called racing at home last year’s “emotional highlight” during a
season where the 25-year-old Olympic champion took home five medals – including
two gold – from the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
“The World Cup in Berlin offers our
German athletes the wonderful opportunity to race against the international
competition on the way to Paris in front of our home fans. We want to use this
home advantage and get the necessary momentum for the following
challenges," said DSV sports director Christian Hansmann.
From Germany, the series heads to
Athens, Greece as the country hosts its first-ever Swimming World Cup event.
The birthplace of the modern Olympiad, hosting the Swimming World Cup
solidifies the return of major international sports events to the Greek capital
city.
From Athens, the series heads to the
iconic Duna Arena venue in Budapest, Hungary. Fresh off hosting the World
Aquatics Championships twice in six years, the aquatics hotbed has held three
Swimming World Cups (2021, 2019, 2018) and the Champions Swim Series in 2019.
Count World Record holder Kristof
Milak among those targeting a return to Duna Arena.
“For me, it’s always special to swim
in the Duna Arena at a highlighted international meet. I have only fond
memories of racing in this palace, I consider lane four my second home. I broke
the world record last year here, won world titles, European titles,” Milak
said. “I also train here every day, so being part of World Cup action once more
in the Arena will be fabulous. I can’t wait to compete in front of our home
crowd, our fantastic fans, that’s really unique and uplifting.”
Long Course 50m Racing |
Qualification Events for the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024 and Paris
2024 Olympic Games
The 2023 edition of the World
Aquatics Swimming World Cup slots into the global swimming calendar between the
World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023 (14-30 July) and the World Aquatics
Championships – Doha 2024 (2-18 February).
With this year’s Swimming World Cup
leading into both the Doha 2024 Worlds as well as the Paris 2024 Olympics (26
July – 11 August), the three competition venues will use the 50m long course
pool. The three events – Berlin, Athens and Budapest – will be part of the
qualification pathway for next year’s Olympic Games.
The electric atmosphere aided
athletes as they set two World Records, five World Junior Records and six Meet
Records in the Swimming World Cup 2022 series. The first night of the weekend
last year came to be known as Sell-Out Saturdays as fans packed the stands to
watch hard-fought but friendly rivalries play out in the pool.
In addition to swimmers competing for
the overall Swimming World Cup title along with prize money at each meet, this
year’s World Cup will see the return of “The Crowns.” Athletes winning the same
event at all three meets of the series will receive additional prize money and
a circular ornament to wear marking their achievement. Introduced at last
year’s Swimming World Cup, eighteen crowns were earned in 2022.
Look for stacked fields as athletes
say the Swimming World Cup is a can’t-miss event.
"Racing with joy is the most
electric feeling and it's easy to do when surrounded by such kind friends and
fierce competitors," said USA's Beata Nelson, winner of the Swimming World
Cup 2022's overall women's crown.
Added Italy’s Thomas Ceccon after
completing last year’s Swimming World Cup:
"These three weeks have left a
mark on my life. It's always a pleasure to race the best athletes in the world.
I want to thank World Aquatics for inviting me and organizing these events. It
was a great experience and I hope to be back soon.”
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