Dubai: South Africa’s Olympic 200-metre butterfly gold medallist Chad Le Clos will headline the second round of the Fina/Mastbank Swimming World Cup at Dubai’s Hamdan Sports Complex from August 31 to September 1.
Dubai was where it all began for the 22-year-old, who kick-started his career with a 200-metre butterfly gold medal at the Fina Short Course World Championships here in 2010.
He went on to win his first Fina World Cup in 2011 after starting the annual seven-stage series with victory in the emirate, before becoming a household name with victory over Michael Phelps at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Le Clos went on to win a 100-metre butterfly gold medal at the 2012 Short Course World Championships in Istanbul, before winning 100-metre and 200-metre butterfly gold medals at the Long Course World Championships in Barcelona, as well as a second World Cup title, last year.
Other stars in the Dubai line-up include Hungarian 200-metre and 400-metre medley Long Course World Champion Katinka Hosszu, who, like Le Clos, is also in search of her third World Cup success having won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.
Ahmad Al Falasi, President of the UAE Swimming Association and Chairman of the Organising Committee, said spectators were in for a treat.
“This is the fourth time this event has been held in Dubai and we are delighted that with each year we are attracting more world class swimmers,” he said.
“There will be a wealth of talent on display. Every year this event has delivered wonderful performances and we encourage sports fans to come and witness the World and Olympic champions in action.”
The annual seven-stage World Cup series begins in Doha, Qatar, from August 27-28 before heading to Dubai, Hong Kong, Moscow, Beijing and Tokyo. The final event will be held in Singapore from November 1-2.
The Swimming World Cup is contested in a 25-metre pool and sees men and women vie for prize money in each of the 36 events. The overall men’s and women’s series winners also receive $100,000 (Dh367.310). The event sees teams from more than 30 countries in action.
This year competitors have added focus and drive given that the format precedes the Short Course World Championships in Doha from December 3-7.
