File picture of Alia Atkinson competing in the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships at the Hamad Aquatic Centre.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
A further wave of swimming stars have confirmed their places at the upcoming FINA airweave Swimming World Cup 2015, Doha event, set to thrill crowds at Hamad Aquatic Centre from November 2-3. Olympians, World Champions and World Record Holders will all take to the 50m pool to battle for crucial World Cup points in the penultimate meet of the series. Crowds can expect to see action like never before as the world’s best will also be looking to claim their place at next year’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games, with the Doha World Cup meet doubling up as an Olympic qualifier.
Adding to an already incredible line-up is Jamaica’s woman of the hour, Alia Atkinson. Competing in the upper ranks of the sport since 2004 when she made her first Olympic Games appearance, Atkinson has made real strides in the past year. At last year’s FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Doha, she equalled the 100m breaststroke short course world record time of 1.02.36 to become joint world record holder with Lithuanian sensation, Ruta Meilutyte. Earlier this year, the breaststroke specialist became the first Jamaican swimmer to medal at a long course worlds at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan when she touched the wall third behind Yuliya Efimova of Russia and 100m breaststroke world record holder Ruta Meilutyte.
At October’s FINA World Cup meet in Singapore, the 26-year-old spoke of her hopes to win her country’s first Olympic medal in swimming. “I’ve accomplished a lot of things in the sport, even things that I didn’t think were possible before. Going into 2016, I want to do something that Jamaica swimming has not done before. For the most part, we have medalled in every (swimming) meet — but not the Olympics — so that’s the goal. ”
Australia will be sending its dream team to Doha, including current second in the FINA World Cup 2015 rankings and Olympic silver medallist, Ashley Delaney. Joining him is rising star, Mitch Larkin, reigning 100 and 200 backstroke World Champion who earlier this year became only the fourth person – and the first in 10 years – to complete the world 100m-200m backstroke double. Hotly tipped to medal at Rio 2016, fans in Doha can expect big things from this young star. Emily Seebhom has also made a name for herself in Australian swimming this year, claiming the 100m and 200m backstroke World Champion title. Teammate Melanie Wright also stormed to victory at Kazan 2015, and will join Delaney, Larkin and Seebhom as part of Team Australia in Doha next month.
Other top names ready to go to battle in Doha include World Record Holder and World Championship medallist Rikke M?ller Pedersen, British Olympian Liam Tancock, 2008 Olympic Champion and current 200m freestyle world champion Federica Pellegrini, and the USA’s World Championship medallist and butterfly star, Tom Shields.
Speaking on the line-up, Khaleel Al Jabir, President of Qatar Swimming Association and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee explains: “Preparations are well under way for the FINA airweave Swimming World Cup here in Doha and excitement is mounting across the city. With such a stunning line-up of talent, plus a strong Qatari team, we have no doubt that Doha is in for two days of thrilling action at Hamad Aquatic Centre.”
