10 notable swimmers to make a splash at the Swimming World Cup 2024 in Singapore

At 20 years of age, Chinese freestyle swimmer Pan Zhanle has a knack for breaking world records, including his own. At the Paris Olympics, the swimmer won the 100m freestyle, subsequently breaking his previous world record in the process with a margin of 1.08 seconds.

Specialising in the breaststroke and individual medley, Qin Haiyang has set the bar high, becoming the first swimmer in history to win all three breaststroke events at the 2023 World Aquatic Championships. That same year, he also became the first Asian swimmer to be named as the Male Swimmer of the Year. 

The world record holder in the long course 100m backstroke and the short course 4x100m freestyle relay, Singapore aquatic fans are holding their breaths to what Italian Thomas Ceccon might achieve next. A trailblazing athlete since his youth, Ceccon’s most recent achievements include a gold medal for the 100m backstroke event at the Paris Olympics. 

Breaststroke specialist Nicolò Matinenghi is no stranger to competitive swimming. Since setting a world junior record at the Italian National Championships in 2017, Martinenghi has become a formidable name in the water. Most recently, he brought Italy a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke event at the Paris Olympics. 

Quintuple Olympic gold medalist Kaylee McKeown is single-handedly taking the aquatic world by storm. The Australian swimmer possesses gold medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke at both the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. Additionally, she was named “Best Female Swimmer of the Year” by World Aquatics in 2023. 

Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei returned home from the Paris Olympics with the most medals won by a competing swimmer, with a count of six medals. Specialising in sprint freestyle and butterfly events, we are excited to see Zhang in action following her illustrious swimming career, spanning the Youth Olympics, Asian Games, World Championships, and the Summer Olympics. 

Olympic champion in the 200m breaststroke Kate Douglass is an all rounder when it comes to swimming events. Winning her first major international medal at the 202 Olympics, Douglass has never slowed down since, competing for the University of Virginia during her career with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). For her achievements, she is widely considered to be one of the greatest swimmers in NCAA history. 

At the Paris Olympics, swimmer Siobhán Haughey became the only Hong Kong athlete to win four Olympic medals after dominating the women’s 200m and 100m freestyle events. Her illustrious career took flight in 2013, winning and breaking the meet record in the 100m freestyle at the World Junior Championships in 2013. Slated to be competing in Singapore, fans are excited to see the swimmer flash her freestyle talents.

Read more: Meet Siobhán Haughey, Hong Kong’s most decorated Olympian

Singaporean swimmer Amanda Lim first competed under the Singapore flag at the 2007 Hong Kong International Open, aged 14. Since then, Lim has been a skilful contender at international swim meets. The freestyle specialist was also named Sportsgirl of the Year at the Singapore National Olympic Council’s 2012 Singapore Sports Awards.