But comfort is relative. Despite Morozov’s cushy lead in points, he was a bit edgy at yesterday’s press conference at the Hamad Aquatic Centre. “This is my sixth or seventh time in Qatar,” Morozov said. “I’m happy to finish the World Cup here. I hope I’ll finish it up on a high note.”
Since the overall title is a given, Morozov said his priority over the next three days will be to try to move up from sixth place in the “cluster” points standings. (The 2019 World Cup is divided into three clusters in which additional prize money is awarded to the winners of those subdivisions.) “I think it’s going to be very difficult to beat Anton Chupkov, my teammate, because of his outstanding performance in the 200 breaststroke in Kazan, Russia. I feel that he will win this cluster, but I can try to get second place. Other than that, I’m trying to win all three events as usual: 50 free, 100 free, and 50 back,” the 27-year-old said.
If Morozov succeeds, he would end the World Cup season with 20 victories in 21 races. (His only loss came at the previous stop, in Kazan, where he finished second to his countryman Vladislav Grinev in the 100m freestyle.)
The hunt for the women’s title is much closer. Cate Campbell of Australia currently leads Katinka Hosszu of Hungary by 24 points. If both women win three races in Doha and earn the maximum 24 points, the overall title will come down to bonus points which require a separate calculation based on times. Their three best times here would earn “performance points” based on where they fall on a FINA table. The swimmer with the most “performance points” in Doha would earn an additional 24 “bonus points,” second-most would earn 18 points, and the third-most would receive 12.
If Hosszu prevails, she would earn her sixth World Cup title – her first since 2016. If Campbell wins, she would be the first Australian woman to claim the crown since 2008.
Sweden’s Coleman is in third place with 153 points and said she was excited for what is in the store this weekend. Coleman said: “It’s great to be in Doha. It’s my third time and I am very pleased to be back to this amazing complex. We are really excited for some fast racing in the last meet of FINA World Cup. It’s going to be neck and neck in a lot of events, and I look forward to really going this time.”
Doha, which staged the 2014 World Swimming Championships, and will host the 2023 FINA World Aquatics Championships, is organising the World Cup meet for the eighth year in a row.
This year, the event is witnessing a significant rise in the number of participating athletes and countries, as 210 swimmers – 134 male and 76 female swimmers – from 44 countries are competing. Last year, 130 swimmers from 23 countries came for the Doha stop.
The Qatar Swimming Association president and FINA Bureau Member Khaleel al-Jabir said: “I would like to welcome all the swimmers and wish them success. We are happy to host the final meet of the FINA World Cup and cluster 3. The QSA is delighted that the number of participants has increased than the last year. This is what we were looking for.”
FINA Vice President Dale Neuburger hailed FINA’s partnership with Qatar and praised the QSA for successfully hosting major swimming events. “It’s a great pleasure to be here. We have always been treated here with great dignity, great respect, great care and attention by Khaleel al-Jabir) and his colleagues, QSA, Qatar Olympic Committee and all the authorities,” Neuburger said.
“I came here for the first time in 2005 and since then Doha events have been blessed with great organisation and fantastic facilities. It’s been 15 years of great swimming competitions in Doha. In 2023, FINA World Championships will be held in Doha again, representing great partnership between FINA and QSA. It’s been a pleasure to watch the evolution in development of aquatics sports in Qatar,” he added. The three-day meet will have 34 sets of medal, with the opening day featuring 10 finals. A total of 12 title races each will be held in the next two days. The heats will take place from 10:00am while the finals will start from 6:00pm.
