As the Paris Olympics have come and gone, many of the world’s best swimmers will reconvene over the next three weeks across three Asian cities for the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Shanghai, Incheon, and Singapore.

Sold out crowds will be expected in Shanghai as many of China’s best will be in attendance including Olympic medalists from Paris, Pan Zhanle and breaststroker Tang Qianting. This year’s Paris team was China’s most successful in the pool with 12 total medals, including the first ever men’s relay gold in the 4x100m medley relay on the final night.

This weekend will be the first bit of international racing for many of these swimmers since Paris ended, so here are six races to watch in Shanghai this weekend.

Men’s 100m freestyle

China’s lone individual gold medaélist from Paris, Pan Zhanle, will be racing the event in which he set the world record in long course meters this summer. Pan also had the fastest relay split in history when China broke the unbeaten streak of the United States men in the 4x100m medley relay as he will be racing in his first international meet since Paris this weekend in Shanghai.

Pan will be well received by the Chinese faithful as he will likely be pushed every step of the way by the likes of Italy’s Thomas Ceccon and Trinidad & Tobago’s Dylan Carter. The big question for Pan is if Kyle Chalmers’ 44.84 world record from 2021 is under threat? Pan holds a best time of 45.77 from 2022, but almost swam that fast in long course on a relay this summer.

Men’s 200m IM

The last two Olympic champions will meet in Shanghai with France’s Leon Marchand competing in his first meet since he won four individual golds at a home Games in Paris. This weekend, he will take on 2020 Olympic champion Wang Shun in his home nation as the Chinese fans that have already sold out finals each night will show out and make their voices heard for one of their favorite swimmers.

In fact, the entire podium from Paris will be racing again this weekend as Great Britain’s Duncan Scott, who won two straight Olympic silvers in this event, is also on the entry list. 2022 World Short Course champion Matthew Sates of South Africa could also factor into the race as he is second fastest all-time and the 2021 World Cup winner.

Men’s 100m Breaststroke

Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy will line up alongside last year’s World Cup champion Qin Haiyang. After a disappointing showing in Paris where he finished a mere seventh in the 100m breaststroke final, Qin will look to redeem himself alongside Martinenghi, who shocked the world in denying Adam Peaty’s quest for a three-peat in the event.

World record holder Ilya Shymanovich will also be in China this weekend racing as his 55.28 record from 2021 could be under threat.

Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands, who won Olympic silver back in Tokyo 2020, will also be in Shanghai this weekend, as will American Michael Andrew, who changed coaches after not making the United States Olympic team for Paris.

Women’s 200m Breaststroke

American Kate Douglass will take aim at the world record of 2:01.86 set back in 2014 by Katinka Hosszu. Douglass recently won Olympic silver in this event in Paris after winning the 200m breaststroke earlier in the Games.

Douglass is second all-time at 2:02.12 and certainly has the pedigree to break Hosszu’s record. Douglass has done nearly everything in this sport except break an individual world record, which could change this World Cup circuit.

Australia’s Kaylee McKeown, who won bronze in Paris, will likely be Douglass’ biggest challenger, along with China’s Yu Yiting, who was fourth in Paris.

Women’s 100m Backstroke

The Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown of Australia will do battle once more with Olympic  silver medalist Regan Smith of the United States here as the two have dominated this event since Smith set the long course world record in 2019. McKeown recently set the world record in this event at the Australian Championships in September with a 54.56 and will be racing her biggest rival in the sport.

Smith hasn’t beaten McKeown head to head since 2019 and the two have become good friends as well as competitors as McKeown’s world record will be on watch. Smith set the long course world record earlier this summer in June, while McKeown is one of the best racers in the entire world.

If someone can pull the upset, look no further than American Beata Nelson, who was the overall World Cup winner two years ago in 2022. Nelson is ranked 15th all-time and perhaps better at the 200m, but will factor into the 100m off her underwater speed.

Women’s 100m Butterfly

How fast will China’s Zhang Yufei go in front of the sold out Chinese crowd? Zhang won bronze in Paris in this event and could deliver something special if she is on form. The world record stands at 54.05 from 2022 and Zhang is certainly capable of a 53.

Zhang will go head to head with American Regan Smith, who swam 55.62 this summer at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, which was faster than what Zhang swam to win the bronze medal.

Sweden’s Louise Hansson, who is ranked fifth all-time in short course meters, will also be in Shanghai this weekend and will give Zhang plenty of push if they end up lining up alongside each other in the final.

Where to Watch the Swimming World Cup

Check out our Where to Watch Guide for the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024 season to see where you can catch the action live and on demand from Shanghai, Incheon and Singapore. 

Competition Schedule