Le Clos (RSA) and Alshammar (SWE) again the best in Beijing

Chad Le Clos (RSA) and Therese Alshammar (SWE) were the best performers of the sixth meet of the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2011, held in the “Water Cube” in Beijing (CHN) on November 8-9. Le Clos left the Chinese capital with seven medals, including six victories in the men’s 200m free, 100m and 200m butterfly and the three medley events (and a silver medal in the 100m free). He got the best performance of the meet thanks to his 200m fly win in 1:51.74 (931 points). The South African is now comfortably leading the overall ranking of the competition and almost assured the 2011 World Cup title, before the last leg in Tokyo (JPN).

Besides Le Clos, other highlights among men included the triumph of Kyle Richardson (AUS) in the 50m and 100m free, the win of his compatriot Christian Sprenger in the 50m and 100m breaststroke, and also the double victory of Xiaolei Sun (CHN) in the 50m and 100m backstroke.

In the women’s field, Therese Alshammar was the best in the 50m and 100m butterfly, getting the most valuable performance in Beijing with her win in the longer distance (55.76, 962 points). The Swede also reinforced her lead of the overall ranking and has solid chances to revalidate the 2010 title in Tokyo. Other multi-winners in Beijing included Australians Emma McKeon (50m and 100m free), Blair Evans (200m and 400m free), and Leiston Pickett (50m and 100m breast), Jing Zhao (CHN, 50m back and 100m IM) and Hye Ra Choi (KOR, 200m butterfly and 200m IM).  

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