FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2011: Le Clos (RSA) and Alshammar (SWE) overall winners

South Africa’s rising talent Chad Le Clos and veteran swimmer Therese Alshammar (SWE) are the overall winners of the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2011, each receiving US$ 100,000 in prize money. 

Le Clos obtains the first World Cup crown of his career after collecting 31 medals from the 2011 series and a total 176 points. Japan’s Hidemasa Sano places second in the men’s overall ranking with 90 points and US$50,000 while German Marco Koch finishes in third with 65 points and US$30,000.

Alshammar successfully defended her 2010 title by adding a fourth World Cup victory to her incredible roll of honour. Her medal tally for the 2011 season is of 18 medals for a total 145 points. Melissa Franklin (USA) is second with 70 points and receives US$50,000. Korea’s Hye Ra Choi takes third with 60 points and wins US$30,000.

In Tokyo, Alshammar and Takeshi Matsuda (JPN) were the best performers of the final stage – 952 and 989 points in the 100m and 200m butterfly, respectively. The Swedish sprint queen also won gold in the same event over 50m. 

Japanese swimmers occupied the majority of the podiums with eleven victories in the men’s events and five among women. Facing such tough competitive field, Le Clos secured only one gold medal in the 200m freestyle.

Australia’s Kyle Richardson and Robert Hurley were triumphant in the 100m and 400m freestyle events, respectively, while teammates Cate Campbell, Blair Evans and Leiston Pickett collected four gold medals in the women’s events.

Other countries to medal in Tokyo were China, Colombia, Korea and New Zealand.