The final entry list for the FINA Swimming World Cup 2021 – Berlin (GER) from 01 – 03 October is here, and it stirs up the anticipation for this year’s World Cup opener. A total of 328 athletes from 32 nations will be at the start and guarantee for a high-class event. Several Olympic champions from Tokyo will be swim in Berlin, including Emma McKeon (AUS), Margaret MacNeil (CAN), Lydia Jacoby (USA) and of course Germany’s swimming star Florian Wellbrock (SC Magdeburg). Spectators are not allowed in the arena due to Covid regulations. But the World Cup races will be broadcasted live on swcberlin.de/live from Friday to Sunday including all heats (starting 10:00 a.m.) and finals (starting 06:00 p.m.)
For the first time, the new FINA World Cup scoring system will be at work, according to which a total of 1.452 million US dollars in prize money will be distributed. At each of the four World Cup stations on four consecutive weekends in October, there is a meeting ranking for which the best three races of every participant are counted. For every discipline ten points are awarded for 1st place down to one point for 10th place. In addition, there are performance points according to the FINA point system, which is always based on the current world record. 1000 points in the FINA point system for setting the world record would result in ten performance points in the World Cup, 990 to 999 FINA points would result in 9.9 World Cup points, 980 to 989 points would result in 9.8 World Cup points, etc.
That means that more calculations will have to be made at the side of the pool. But the new system also guarantees a fair evaluation of the performance between the various disciplines. In addition, the stars are encouraged to start at least three times per weekend. And it is ultimately worth it: Meeting winners each receive 12,000 USD, second place is worth 10,000 USD and third place 8,000 USD. And the list goes on to 20th place, for which 4,000 USD will still be paid out. And for new world records there is another 10,000 USD bonus.
The overall ranking after all four meetings in Berlin, Budapest (HUN), Doha (QAT) and Kazan (RUS) is even more lucrative: Here the winner can look forward to 100,000 USD , with second (70,000) and third place (30,000) also earning high income. Tenth place in the overall ranking ist still worth 7,000 USD. Altogether, a star could make a total of 148,000 USD this October, possible bonuses not included. That should be motivation enough.
