FINA World Cup | Hosszu & Le Clos Snag $50K Cluster Bonus In Doha

Recap of the 2017 FINA World Cup. This article highlights the Doha stop on the second cluster with swimmers Sarah Sjostrom, Katinka Hosszu, Tom Shields, and Chad Le Clos.

Oct 6, 2017

FINA World Cup | Hosszu & Le Clos Snag $50K Cluster Bonus In Doha

2017 FINA World Cup

Cluster No. 2 -- Doha
October 4-5
Hamad Aquatic Centre
Short Course Meters (SCM)
LIVE RESULTS

Katinka Hosszu and Chad Le Clos have officially won cluster two of the FINA World Cup after taking home the USD $50,000 bonus check from Doha, Qatar, on Thursday.

Hosszu's battle with flying Swede Sarah Sjöström has been one of the highlights of this cluster. Both women recorded five wins and one silver medal in Doha, and Sjöström topped the FINA point score with her 994 in Wednesday's 50m free. However, Hosszu held on to claim the cluster by a mere three points -- the difference coming last week in Hong Kong where the Iron Lady won all six of her individual events and the Swede finished '"just" 5 for 6.

Le Clos has had a more comfortable ride on the men's side, with an amazing four races Thursday night in Doha -- collecting two golds and two silvers. In order, the South African swam a 1:44.40 to take the 200m free and a 50.17 shortly after in the 100m fly. American rival Tom Shields was a close second in both events, yet again, posting 1:45.02 and 50.30, respectively. Shields actually out-split Le Clos on the back half of the 100 fly but was unable to get past the world-record holder.

Le Clos also earned silver medals in the 50m free (21.50), which was won by uber consistent Vlad Morozov in 20.98, and showed more extreme versatility by almost claiming the 200m back to end the night with his 1:51.02. Le Clos dropped a 27.55 in the final 50m, pushing German Christian Diener (1:50.96) and three-time short course world champion Radoslaw Kawecki (1:51.02 -- dead heat with Le Clos), all the way to the wall.

World-record holder Cameron van der Burgh continues to get faster through this tour, throwing down a whopping 56.11 in the 100m breast to edge Russia's Kirill Prigoda by 0.2 of a second and come within striking distance of his own suited world record of 55.61 from 2009. The South African's time is an unofficial textile world record.

Hosszu's victories of the day came in the 100m back (56.27) and 400m IM (4:27.94), both times edging out Australia's Emily Seebohm who competed in the 400m IM here for the first time in international waters.

The 100m IM is the only event where superstars Hosszu and Sjöström came up against directly against each other, with a huge swing in points going to go the winners way. Hosszu hit the lead early and held off Sjöström over the back end, continuing her undefeated IM streak with a 57.26 victory ahead of 57.60 for Sjöström and 58.59 for Seebohm.

Sjostrom's night included wins in the 100m free (51.62) and 50m fly (24.76).

Other highlights on night two in Doha included Chinese teenager Wang Jianjiahe winning her second event, the 400m free, in 4:02.43 in a Chinese podium sweep ahead of matching 4:02s for Li Bingjie and Shen Duo. Countrywoman Zhang Yufei took the 200m fly in 2:07.43. In the women's breaststroke, Alia Atkinson of Jamaica dominated the 50m with a 29.42 and likewise Rikke Pedersen prevailed in the 200m with a 2:18.96.

Prigoda won the men's 200m IM (1:55.57) and Diener swept the backstroke races with a 23.58 victory over 50m. Hungary's Gergely Gyurta claimed the 1500m battle in 14:41.84.

The FINA World Cup wraps up next month with its final three legs in Beijing (Nov. 10-11), Tokyo (Nov. 14-15), and Singapore (Nov. 18-19).

Men's Rankings -- Through Cluster No. 2

Cluster No. 2

1.)  Chad Le Clos (RSA) -- 151.5
2.)  Tom Shields (USA) -- 114
3.)  Kirill Prigoda (RUS) -- 108
4.)  Vlad Morozov (RUS) -- 96
5.)  Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) -- 84
6.)  Christian Diener (GER) -- 60
7.)  Ilya Shymanovich (BLR) -- 42
8.)  Gabriele Detti (ITA) -- 39

Overall (Progressive)

1.)  Chad Le Clos (RSA) -- 385.5
2.)  Tom Shields (USA) -- 261
3.)  Kirill Prigoda (RUS) -- 243

Women's Rankings -- Through Cluster No. 2

Cluster No. 2

1.)  Katinka Hosszu (HUN) -- 183
2.)  Sarah Sjöström (SWE) -- 180
3.)  Emily Seebohm (AUS) -- 96
4.)  Femke Heemskerk (NED) -- 90
5.)  Alia Atkinson (JAM) -- 63
6.)  Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) -- 60
7.)  Rikke Pedersen (DEN) -- 57
8.)  Zhang Yufei (CHN) -- 42