World Championship Swimmers to Watch

SI Staff | Jul 22, 2011

World Championship Swimmers to Watch /

World Championship Swimmers to Watch

Ryan Lochte

Even Michael Phelps' coach admitted it: Ryan Lochte was the best swimmer in the world last year. The laid-back Floridian won six gold medals at the biggest meet of 2010, the Pan Pacific Championships, but, like Phelps, has looked beatable so far this year. Potential Events 200 back 200 free 200 IM 400 IM 400 free relay 800 free relay

Michael Phelps

The golden boy has suffered a few more defeats than usual in the last two years, but he said he's been training to peak for these world championships. If all goes well in Shanghai, Michael Phelps could aim to swim seven events at the 2012 Olympics. He owns 26 career world championship medals, including 22 golds. Potential Events 100 fly 200 fly 200 free 200 IM 400 free relay 800 free relay Medley relay

Ous Mellouli

Ous Mellouli made big splashes by winning swimming's marathon event, the 1,500-meter freestyle, at the 2008 Olympics and 2009 world championships. But he diversified in this year's USA Swimming Grand Prix series. Mellouli won 12 total events over seven meets, second only to Michael Phelps. Potential Events 200 free 400 free 800 free 1,500 free

Sun Yang

Sun, 19, is the latest from China to burst onto the swim scene. He's been arguably the best swimmer in the world this year -- owning the fastest times in every freestyle event from 200 meters to 1,500 meters. In Shanghai, Sun has a real chance at taking the oldest world record off the books, Grant Hackett's 14:34.56 in the 1,500 set in 2001. Potential Events 400 free 800 free 1,500 free 800 free relay

Park Tae-Hwan

An overwhelmed 14-year-old Park Tae-Hwan fell off the starting blocks and into the pool, disqualifying himself from the 2004 Olympics without registering a swim. By 2008, Park had filled out and won a gold and silver at the Beijing Games, but he failed to final in both events at the 2009 worlds. He's since recovered, sweeping the 100, 200 and 400 free at the Santa Clara Grand Prix in June. Park will give Michael Phelps a serious run in the 200 free in Shanghai. Potential Events 100 free 200 free 400 free

Cesar Cielo

Cielo is the world's fastest swimmer, the defending world champion in the 50 free and 100 free. He's also the world's most scrutinized swimmer heading into this meet. The Brazilian tested positive in May for furosemide, a banned diuretic, and blamed it on a contaminated supplement. He recently was cleared to race after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in his favor. Potential Events 50 free 100 free 400 free relay Medley relay

Kosuke Kitajima

Kosuke Kitajima has been the king of the breaststroke for nearly a decade. Now 28, he's ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, in the world this year in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. Kitajima hasn't lost either the 100 or 200 at a major international meet since 2007. Potential Events 100 breast 200 breast Medley relay

Milorad Cavic

California-born Serbian Milorad Cavic was foiled by Michael Phelps in the 100 fly at the 2008 Olympics and 2009 world championships by a combined 14 hundredths of a second. Cavic is ranked seventh in the 100 fly this year, and he's the defending world champion in the 50 fly, a distance not swum at the Olympics. Potential Events 50 fly 100 fly

Alain Bernard

The 6-foot-5 Frenchman is best known for his ominous trash talking before the 400 freestyle relay at the Beijing Olympics. Of course, Bernard would go on to blow a body-length lead on the anchor leg to Jason Lezak and the Americans. Well, Bernard bounced back by winning the 100 free in Beijing, but that French relay lost again at the 2009 world championships. Bernard fell to the fourth-fastest 100 free swimmer in France this year and might now be the weak link on its relay. Potential Events 50 free 400 free relay

Jason Lezak

Gary Hall Jr. once called Jason Lezak nothing more than "a professional relay swimmer." At the time, it was a putdown. But Lezak's comeback to win the 400-free relay for the U.S. at the Beijing Olympics cemented him as one of the clutch performers in swimming history. Lezak skipped the 2009 world championships to swim in the Maccabiah Games in Israel. He was the third leg on the victorious 400 free relay team at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships and, now 35, is bidding for his fourth Olympic team. Potential Events 100 free 400 free relay Medley relay

Natalie Coughlin

This could be the final world championships for Natalie Coughlin, who is poised to finish her career with more than 30 combined Olympic and world medals. She's entered in her two longest-running events, the 100 free and 100 back, but could be vulnerable. Coughlin is ranked ninth and 10th, respectively, in those races this year, but she's been training to peak in Shanghai. Potential Events 100 back 100 free 400 free relay 800 free relay Medley relay

Missy Franklin

It's no stretch to say Missy Franklin could finish her career with a medal record comparable to Michael Phelps. The 16-year-old Coloradoan could swim in almost every event at the Olympic trials -- she has the necessary qualifying times. The schedule for her first world championships -- two individual events -- is a yawner compared to her hectic slate on the Grand Prix series this year, where she earned $20,000 as the No. 1 all-around swimmer (even better than Phelps). Of course, Franklin couldn't accept that cash prize because she wanted to keep her amateur status. Potential Events 50 back 200 back 400 free relay

Katie Hoff

Before Missy Franklin, Katie Hoff was the must-watch teen star of the U.S. team. She made her first Olympic team in 2004 at age 15. Though Hoff has yet to claim an Olympic title, all six of her world medals are gold. She has bounced back from a post-Beijing descent, when she failed to make the world championship team. Potential Events 400 free 800 free relay

Kirsty Coventry

Zimbabwe's only individual Olympic medalist will be looking to defend her world title in the 200 backstroke, an event she won at the last two Olympics. In the individual medleys, Kirsty Coventry will go head-to-head with Stephanie Rice in an anticipated showdown. Potential Events 200 back 200 IM 400 IM

Stephanie Rice

Australia's best all-around swimmer, Stephanie Rice, is racing in her first big meet since shoulder surgery last September. After winning three golds at the Beijing Olympics, Rice settled for silver and bronze at the 2009 world championships. Potential Events 200 fly 200 IM 400 IM 800 free relay

Rebecca Soni

With the high-tech swimsuits gone, world records will not be falling like dominoes. If one woman is to set a new mark, Rebecca Soni might be the favorite. She came within a half-second of the 200 breaststroke record last year (wearing a low-tech suit). Soni is the unquestioned favorite to sweep the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, owning the three fastest times in the world this year in both distances. Potential Events 100 breast 200 breast Medley relay

Rebecca Adlington

Double Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Adlington will be under immense pressure to perform at next year's Games for obvious reasons. This year, she'll test out adding the 200 free to her program, an event she didn't swim in Beijing. She's the fastest performer in the world in the 400 and 800 free this year, but a medal in the 200 may be asking too much. Potential Events 200 free 400 free 800 free 800 free relay

Federica Pellegrini

All eyes were on Federica Pellegrini at the 2009 world championships, which were held in Rome. Pellegrini delivered double gold for the home fans then. She'll have to fend off Brit Rebecca Adlington, Frenchwoman Camille Muffat and Aussies Bronte Barrett and Kylie Palmer in the 200 and 400 free. Potential Events 200 free 400 free 800 free relay

Jessica Hardy

Jessica Hardy makes her return to the world stage for the first time in four years. In 2008, she tested positive for traces of clenbuterol -- proved to be from a contaminated supplement -- and was given a one-year ban. Hardy is the best U.S. hope for a medal in the splash-and-dash 50 free. She also owns the world's fastest time in the 50 breast -- not an Olympic event -- each of the last three years. Potential Events 50 breast 50 free 400 free relay

Ariana Kukors

Like Missy Franklin, Ariana Kukors is an emerging talent. She defends the world title in the 200 IM in her only event at Shanghai. Her competition will be Olympic champions Kirsty Coventry and Stephanie Rice as well as Aussie Alicia Coutts. Kukors owns the fastest time in the world this year and the world record. Potential Events 200 IM

Published Jul 22, 2011

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