Hong Kong - Chad le Clos is trailing Vladimir Morozov of Russia on the FINA Swimming World Cup overall standings ahead of the Hong Kong leg which takes place this weekend on October 29-30.
From Hungary's Katinka Hosszu, overall winner of the past World Cup Series since 2012 and well on her way to achieve the same feat this time, to South Africa's butterfly king and Olympic multi-time medalist Le Clos and Denmark's sprinter Jeanette Ottesen, the World Cup witnesses an incredible show over a three-month period (August to October).
This year's edition's leader of the men's operations is Vladimir Morozov of Russia, who accumulated 514 points (not counting Tokyo leg) partly thanks to his world record established in the inaugural leg in Paris-Chartres, which he beat in Berlin the following week in the 100m IM (50.30). The Russian then consistently won all 100m IM races of the season.
Le Clos and Germany's Philip Heintz are behind him with 429 and 253 points respectively. Following Heintz comes Japan's Daiya Seto who has proven to be one of the fiercest competitors of the 2016 Series by winning the 200/400m IM consistently in Dubai, Doha and Singapore as well as the 200m butterfly in the past two legs (also won the 200m IM & 200m fly races in Tokyo on Day 1).
Olympic and World champion Hosszu leads the women's overall standing with 921 points, giving no chance to anyone to overtake and assuring her the Cluster No 3 victory too.
This should be Hosszu's fifth consecutive overall win of the FINA Swimming World Cup making her the most successful female swimmer of all time in this event.
African News Agency