DOHA: The world’s best swimmers have arrived in Doha ahead of this year’s showpiece event, the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships, and are looking forward to five days of action in the capital as they compete for World Championship glory.
Hundreds of millions around the world are expected to tune in to see the biggest names in swimming take to the blocks at Hamad Aquatic Centre including the 11-time Olympic medalist known for his short-course dominance, Ryan Lochte, Hunargy’s leading duo, Katinka Hosszu and Daniel Gyurta, South Africa’s Chad Le Clos and Cameron Van Der Burgh and Lithuanian sensation, Ruta Meilutyte.
Three-time Olympic medalist and regional hero, Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia, double World Record holder Mireia Belmonte Garcia of Spain will also be in action.
American Cody Miller, who took home two medals in Doha during the FINA Mastbank Swimming World Cup in August, is looking for similar success in Qatar this week despite being a relative new-comer to short course swimming.
“Being in Doha earlier in the year has definitely helped with familiarity. I know where to place my walls and starts since I’ve been here before so it makes everything just go that much smoother,” Miller said.
“This week I’m hoping to make the finals and maybe even win some medals. I’ve only swum short course events a few other times so I’m not really setting goals by my times, I don’t know what my best times are yet. But I’m just going to try my best to get on that podium,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hungary’s golden girl and multiple World-Record holder, Katinka Hosszu, was speaking at the 3rd FINA World Aquatics Convention in Doha on how swimming and aquatic sports can stay at the top of the Olympic prgoramme.
“Swimming is one of the most popular sports during the Olympics and I feel that in the four years in between, people are not watching swimming as often,” Hosszu said.
“I definitely think we need more competitions to see the swimmers competing against each other and FINA is doing a great job with events like the FINA World Cup which was here in Doha earlier this year. Hopefully we can inspire more kids to become swimmers as well,” she added.
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