Katinka Hosszu Opens FINA World Cup Series With Three Top Seeds in Paris

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Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off an Olympic performance which included three gold medals Katinka Hosszu returned to racing this morning in the FINA World Cup Series (which takes place in short course meters) where the “Iron Lady” has experienced so much success.

On the first morning in Paris at the Chartres stop Hosszu took the top seeds in the 200 freestyle (1:57.39), 200 IM (2:09.28), and 100 butterfly (57.72). The Hungarian will also swim finals in the 50 freestyle where she qualified second (25.03) behind Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen (24.31).

In the 50 backstroke, Hosszu will return fifth in 27.65. Daryna Zevina of Ukraine and Australia’s Emily Seebohm tied for the top spot in 26.55.

Olympic bronze medalist Kaite Meili stopped the clock in 1:04.49 this morning. World record holder Alia Atkinson was just behind in 1:04.89 and Rie Kaneto will return in the third spot with a 1:05.25. Rio’s silver medalist Yulia Efimova was also back in action this morning, finishing fifth in 1:06.25.

Michael Andrew is also swimming another loaded schedule this weekend in France, though his finals seeding is not as dominant as Hosszu’s. Andrew qualified seventh in the 100 freestyle (48.89), an event where Vladimir Morozov posted the top seed of 47.04. Shinri Shioura (47.84) and Adam Barrett (47.98) also were faster than 48 this morning.

Morozov also secured the top seed in the 100 IM with a 52.90, just faster than Philip Heintz in 52.98.

Australians Mitch Larkin and Bobby Hurley finished in 50.98 and 50.99 to earn the middle lanes in tonight’s 100 backstroke final.

Kirill Prigoda swam a half second faster than the field (26.27) to take the middle lane in tonight’s 50 breaststroke final. Cameron Van Der Burgh was second in 26.78. Andrew swam a 27.11 for fifth. He was also sixth in the 100 backstroke (53.49), third in the 100 IM (53.44), and missed finals in the 50 butterfly.

Kirill Prigoda stopped the clock in 2:06.33 in this morning’s 200 breaststroke prelims while Marco Koch took the second seed with his 2:07.46.

Andrii Govorov dominated prelims of the 50 butterfly with a 22.30.

Live results available here.

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