The racing season is back with the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 tour's opening weekend taking place again in the German capital. Here's the place for all the instant athlete reactions, photos and race insights from Berlin.
First Night Impressions | Who You Got Winning the Men's and Women's Overall Swimming World Cup Titles?
Just one night - of nine - into the Swimming World Cup 2023 season, but that doesn't mean you can't form some instant reactions to who is on form for the global titles, right?
"I knew standing behind the block that I would win." | Isaac Cooper Takes 50m Free in 21.93
You can say I’m back but it feels like I never left really," Cooper said after the sub-22-second swim. "This is the first World Cup and I am loving it. I knew standing behind the block that I was going to win."
USA's Michael Andrew doubles back from his 100m Fly win for silver in the 50m free as Netherlands' Stan Pijnenburg wins his first-ever Swimming World Cup medal.
"It was a tight turn around, the 50 free was a good swim. I swam a 22.03 and for me anything above 22 isn’t where I need to be. Coming off the 100 fly we changed a few things with my stroke. We were experimenting with a straight arm stroke, but now we have changed it back."
- Isaac Cooper (AUS) - 21.93
- Michael Andrew (USA) - 22.03
- Stan Pijnenburg (NED) - 22.04
Women's 50m Free Final | Cate's Back, Sjostrom's Still Head of the Sprinting Class
USA's Torri Huske denies the Campbell sisters a double podium by out-touching Bronte by just 1/100ths of a second.
"It’s great to win. It was nice to have a three week break. I didn’t stress anything. I think my swimming is very good. I can see all the details that I need to work on - starts and breakouts. For me, the time was very good and I feel amazing. I am not going to force anything, but I know I can work on the details and to get better."
- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) - 23.95
- Cate Campbell (AUS) - 24.11
- Torri Huske (USA) - 24.66
Two Dutch - Kamminga and Corbeau - on Podium, but it's all Qin #FTW
😱😱 Qin Haiyang 🇨🇳 strikes again equaling his Asian Record and setting a new World Cup Record in Berlin #SWC23 pic.twitter.com/qccL5aPoTS
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) October 6, 2023
- Qin Haiyang (CHN) - 57.69 World Cup Record
- Arno Kamminga (NED) - 59.01
- Caspar Corbeau (NED) - 59.27
Another World Cup Record Falls | Tes Schouten Takes Women's 200m Breastroke Final
"It was a world cup record by 2 tenths. I never thought this was possible until my coach said that he thought there was a chance for the record. He said something to me after this morning’s heats, and I also thought that swimming the record might be possible and he encouraged me to go with it."
- Tes Schouten (NED) - 2:22.13
- Jenna Strauch (AUS) - 2:23.60
- En Yi Letitia Sim (SGP) - 2:24.15
USA's Michael Andrew Wins 100m Fly Squeaker
Andrew makes his first trip back to Berlin a golden one during the Day 1 Finals, winning by just 3/100ths of a second over Australia's Armbruster.
- Michael Andrew (USA) - 51.66
- Ben Armbruster (AUS) - 51.69
- Trenton Julian (AUS) - 52.06
Schmetterling! China's Zhang Yufei Takes Women's 200m Fly in Style
It's early, but could this be the Quote of the Night?
"This is a really horrible event. It makes me very tired." - Zhang Yufei
- Zhang Yufei (CHN) - 2:07.11
- Helena Rosendahl Bach (DEN) - 2:08.74
- Lana Pudar (BIH) - 2:08.90
No 'Stache, No Problem | Italy's Thomas Ceccon takes 200m Back by over 2 seconds
"I felt really strong after three weeks of hard training at altitude for this with my coach," said Ceccon. "I only took 3 or 4 days off after Fukuoka because I really need to train for the Olympics and be ready for these World Cups."
Thomas, what's up with the racing cap, rocking those American Stars & Bars?
"I wore my lucky cap today. In every swim meet I wear it, if I can. I traded with an American guy at World Juniors in 2019."
- Thomas Ceccon (ITA) - 1:56.64
- Ryosuke Irie (JPN) - 1:58.99
- Joshua Smith-Edwards (AUS) - 1:59.00
2nd Women's Race, 2nd World Cup Record | Kaylee McKeown wins Women's 50m Backstroke
WORLD CUP RECORD!! 🇦🇺Kaylee McKeown setting a new World Cup Record and the 7th fastest time in 2023 in the Women's 50m Backstroke🤩 #SWC23 pic.twitter.com/0A2fbxcMsY
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) October 6, 2023
"I was really pleased with that swim after only a few weeks of training. I love to be challenged by the other girls in the 50. I felt good about my swim." - Kaylee
- Kaylee McKeown (AUS) - 27.24
- Ingrid Wilm (SWE) - 27.75
- Maaike De Waard (NED) - 27.92
Lithuania's Rapsys surprises from lane 8, takes Men's 400m Free in sizzling 3:44
Men's 400m Freestyle #SWC23 Final🏊♂️
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) October 6, 2023
🥇 Danas RAPSYS
🥈Victor JOHANSSON
🥉 Kieran SMITH
Full results - https://t.co/Bw5s8JA5L7 pic.twitter.com/BKAycItioG
"I didn't swim very well this morning and was 9th after the semis, But the German swimmer dropped out and I found myself in the final. I didn’t expect that, but I felt really good. After Fukuoka I took the longest vacation ever, and perhaps that will be the new plan for me. I got back in the water about a month ago and I really feel strong and honestly that race was easy for me."
- Danas Rapsys (LTU) - 3:44.86
- Victor Johansson (SWE) - 3:48.07
- Kieran Smith (USA) - 3:48.40
"Ah, super stoked." | Erika Fairweather strikes first, win's Women's 400m Free in Swimming World Cup record time
"I am just super stoked to win. Coming all the way from the other side of the world, I really didn’t know what to expect. Lani Pallister (AUS) was pushing me and it's funny how that happens that the two swimmers from Oceania were swimming close together. You can see by the race that we were pushing each other. Coming off a bronze medal in Fukuoka was such a confidence booster and especially swimming again a stacked field."
- 1. Erica Fairweather (NZL) - 4:01.09 WC
- 2. Lani Pallister (AUS) - 4:02.07
- 3. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) - 4:05.30
Coming Up First, Women's 400m Free Finals
Could it be an all-Oceania battle for the first World Cup of 2023 with New Zealand's Erika Fairweather going up against Australia's Lani Pallister? Here's what Lani had to say yesterday about making her World Aquatics Swimming World Cup debut here in Berlin:
Catching up with 🇦🇺 Lani Pallister on the way to the pool one day out from the Swimming World Cup 2023 🤩 #SWC23 pic.twitter.com/xKZugFJITA
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) October 6, 2023
LETS RACE! | Swimming World Cup 2023 Hype Video
Watch It Live!
Here's the Where to Watch Guide for the Swimming World Cup - Berlin 2023
Getting Stoked for Racin' | Finals Warm-Up Scene Here in Berlin