CHAMPS GALORE AT SWIM WORLD CUP IN S'PORE

Star-studded cast includes Marchand, Pan, le Clos, McKeown, Zhang and Douglass

- Kimberly Kwek

Olympic four-gold swimming sensation Leon Marchand will be among a star-studded cast pencilled in for the upcoming Singapore leg of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup.

The Frenchman was the toast of the Paris Games two months ago, winning the 200m events in breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley while adding the 400m medley title.

Besides the 22-year-old, a host of other Olympic and world champions will be participating in the Oct 31-Nov 2 short-course event at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, organisers announced on Oct 8.

They include China's Pan Zhanle, who also impressed in Paris where he bettered his world record to win the 100m freestyle gold before anchoring the 4x100m medley relay team to victory, ending the United States' 64-year unbeaten run in the process.

Others who will feature are Pan's compatriot Qin Haiyang, who was the men's overall champion at the 2023 World Cup series, as well as Olympic and world champions Thomas Ceccon and Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy and South African Chad le Clos.

Australia's Kaylee McKeown, who won the 100m and 200m backstroke titles in Paris, headlines a stellar women's line-up that includes world and Olympic champions Zhang Yufei of China, American Kate Douglass and Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey.