Swimmers Chad Le Clos of South Africa and Katinka Hosszu of Hungary pose at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha yesterday. The two are leading a star cast of swimmers for the two-day Fina/Arena Swimming World Cup 2012 event in Doha. The event starts today.
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Swimmers Chad le Clos of South Africa and Katinka Hosszu of Hungary are eyeing medal-winning performances this week as the top two competitors get down to serious work in the pool ahead of the Fina World Championships to be held in Istanbul in December this year.
Le Clos, who outpaced Michael Phelps of the US in the London Games in the 200m butterfly final in August, is the clear favourite for three medals in Doha, the second stop on the eight-stop Fina/Arena Swimming World Cup calender.
Olympic veteran Hosszu, who picked up seven medals in Dubai last week, is expected to bag a rich haul at the Hamad Aquatic Centre, venue of the first ever Fina event in Doha.
“I had a good time in Dubai last week and it sets up things nicely for me in the World Cup series,” Le Clos said yesterday.
“I am building up momentum for the World Championships so it was nice to do well in Dubai,” the tall South African added. “I want to defend my title in Istanbul so I am using the World Cup series to improve my performances.
“In Doha I want to improve my time and take maximum points,” the 20-year-old from Durban said.
Hosszu, 23, said: “I am also eyeing the World Championships and this (eight-stop) series is helping us in our preparations for the big event. I had a good time in Dubai. I am looking forward to swimming here. I want to do the best at every event.”
The Hungarian added: “The World Cup series is good for training. It is a difficult challenge but we like it. We can learn a lot from the tough competition. It also helps us deal with different issues during a competition. It (the series) is a key event for us.”
Le Clos - who also bagged a silver in the 100m butterfly final at the London Games - said: “I am looking forward to swimming here. This is my first time in Doha along with my coach and dad. We are monitoring a lot of things after the London Games. Hopefully these (World Cup) events will help me improve until the World Championships.”
The South African picked up a couple of gold medals in Dubai while Hosszu grabbed an amazing seven individual gold medals and one bronze.
She also picked up an eighth gold in the mixed relay in Dubai.
The two swimmers will be joined by athletes from 29 other countries and 108 athletes over the two days of competition.
Fina Executive Director Cornel Marculescu said the world swimming fraternity was warming up to the game’s newest sensations in Le Clos and Hosszu.
“I would say Fina has found star swimmers in these two,” Marculescu said yesterday. “After Michael Phelps, swimming has another star. Chad beat Michael in London. Katinka did amazingly in Dubai last week.
“Swimming looks at its audience. The audience wants to see quality action and these two provide that,” he added. “This eight-leg World Cup is a perfect platform for these two and others to shine and improve. I am thrilled to have arrive in Doha for their first Fina event. Fina and Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) are excited to have joined hands,” Marculescu explained.
Khalil Al Jaber, President of QSA, said: “We hope this is the beginning of a successful partnership. We want to help youngsters in the country take up swimming the right away and what better way than to have a top event that will see local talent also taking part in the competitions watched by many around the world.”
THE PENINSULA
