The Silk Road Tour arrives at its final destination in Astana, Kazakhstan from 15-17 October Rights-free content available on Media Pool throughout competition
Two weeks after the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2026 kicked off with a vibrant opening ceremony in Baku, the Silk Road Tour approaches its final stop in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana.
On Thursday, the competition begins its closing chapter, offering swimmers the final opportunity to impress ahead of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Beijing in December.
The Barys Arena provides the backdrop, the multi-purpose complex having been transformed into an elite international short-course swimming venue for three days of competition.
Here are five key storylines to look out for as the competition is set for a dramatic conclusion:
McEvoy v Kornev – an emerging rivalry
Some of the key moments to have come during the Swimming World Cup this year have been courtesy of the dramatic duels between Australia’s Cameron McEvoy and Russia’s Egor Kornev.
McEvoy has claimed the bragging rights in the 50m Freestyle in Baku (20.22) and Tashkent (20.13), finishing ahead of Kornev on both occasions, and edging closer to the sub-20-second barrier.
In the 100m Freestyle, Kornev registered a spectacular World Record in Baku (44.84), before the two tied in the same event in Tashkent. Kornev also has twice stormed to victory in the 50m Butterfly and clocked a World Record time in Tashkent with 21.28.
Astana provides the pair with the final chance to gain key momentum leading into Beijing.
Steenbergen aims to hold off challengers
The women's competition is set up for a compelling finale.
The Netherlands' Marrit Steenbergen leads the overall rankings with 116.7 points, closely followed by two 21-year-old sensations; China's Yu Yiting on 111.0 and Belgium's Roos Vanotterdijk on 108.8.
Steenbergen has been one of the most consistent performers of the tour. On the back of four golds in Baku, she won the women's 100m freestyle in Tashkent in a time of 50.32, setting a European Record and improving on her performance from the opening stop.
Commenting on her latest swim and the challenge to improve, Steenbergen said:
“There’s not much to say about that, I think. It was a good race. I tried to go out a bit faster than last week; I also died a bit more. So I’m trying to see if I can get the pace right next week and see what I can do then.”
Yu’s three gold medals in Tashkent have brought her firmly into contention, while Vanotterdijk remains within touching distance of the lead and has opportunities to pursue two Triple Crowns in Astana.
Triple Crowns at stake
Beyond the overall standings, the final stop offers swimmers the opportunity to complete a Triple Crown by winning the same event in Baku, Tashkent and Astana, carrying an additional USD 10,000 bonus. There are 17 athletes heading to Astana with the Triple Crown firmly in their sights.
Steenbergen will certainly be one to watch, as she heads into Astana having already registered back-to-back wins in the 100m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke and 100m Individual Medley.
Vanotterdijk is also in contention for two Triple Crowns, while other event winners will arrive in Kazakhstan looking to turn their performances across the first two weekends into a clean sweep.
Watch out for World Record holders as Kornev competes for another win in the 100m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly, McEvoy aims for another 50m Freestyle victory and Pieter Coetze (RSA) bids for more history in the 100m and 200m Backstroke.
Wildcards set their sights on Beijing
One of the new initiatives implemented throughout this year’s Swimming World Cup has been the introduction of a new wildcard system.
The wildcard system gives swimmers the chance to earn direct qualification to the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) 2026 later this year courtesy of achieving a top-three finish in the finals of an individual event with an A standard time.
With several top names having already secured their spot in Beijing, including McEvoy, Lucas Henveaux (BEL) and Alberto Razzetti (ITA) through their performances in Baku and Tashkent, Astana presents the final opportunity for hopefuls to earn a place at the end-of-year showpiece event through the wildcard route.
Superhuman Wasick aims to extend unbeaten run
Few swimmers have shown the consistency of Poland’s Katarzyna Wasick. Her victory in the women’s 50m Freestyle in Tashkent extended her remarkable World Cup winning run in the event to eight.
With another victory in Astana, she will have the opportunity to complete the triple-triple and add another milestone to an already impressive run.
Reflecting on her longevity and success, Wasick said:
“It’s not easy when you’re eighteen. It’s not easy when you’re twenty. It’s definitely not easy when you’re thirty-four. So, I am very happy and proud that I can represent my country for so many races and for so many years.”
And finally... A historic moment for Kazakhstan
The Silk Road Tour has been met with waves of enthusiasm across Baku and Tashkent, and with record-breaking performances and scintillating drama comprising the first two weeks of action, expectations are high that the event will continue this trend and deliver a defining moment in the future of the sport in Kazakhstan.
For the Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerbol Myrzabosynov, “This event marks a momentous milestone for our country: for the very first time in history, Kazakhstan is hosting a World Aquatics Swimming World Cup stage. Hosting a tournament of this caliber in our capital is a profound honor and a testament to the rapid growth of aquatic sports in our nation. It provides an extraordinary opportunity for our citizens and aspiring young athletes to witness the world’s elite swimmers, Olympic champions, and global stars compete live on home soil."
Astana is a dynamic city where modern innovation meets warm oriental hospitality. We are truly thrilled to welcome the global aquatic community and look forward to witnessing high-caliber athletic performances, exciting races, and unforgettable moments.”
Schedule
Morning heats begin at 10:00AM local time across all three days of competition.
Finals begin at 6:00PM on all three days.
The full schedule can be found here.
Where to watch
Racing will be shown live and on demand through World Aquatics broadcast partners around the world, and on the World Aquatics Recast channel in other markets.
Full details are available here.
Rights-free content on Media Pool
Media covering the Silk Road Tour can find the latest rights-free content from each stop on the World Aquatics MEDIA POOL. This includes rights-free imagery, highlights and b-roll footage, which will be made available throughout the event.
The Silk Road Tour concludes in Astana from 15-17 October.
The World Aquatics Swimming World Championships (25m) take place 1-6 December 2026 in Beijing.