The swimming events at the París La Défense Arena surely stoked the viewers. But the year is set to end on a higher note with the upcoming World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024. Slated to halt at three destinations across Asia, the races at this event will qualify the swimmers for the World Aquatic Swimming Championships in Budapest later this year. Thus, the stakes are high and the athletes will bring on their A-games!

The first stop of the Cup begins in Shanghai, starting October 18 and ending October 20. However, amidst a lineup of notable swimmers, a few names are set to be absent in the most populated city in China. Unfortunately, these include the American favorites, Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel. But the side still has notable swimmers representing it. So, who are the top 5 names who’d be representing the USA soon? Here’s the list.

Kate Douglass

Kate Douglass had a rather successful Olympic stint in Paris. With 4 medals, golds in the women’s 200m breaststroke and the women’s 4x100m medley relay, as well as silvers in the 200m medley and 4x100m freestyle relay, she truly lived up to the expectations. And now, she’s set to enter 8 race categories at the Shanghai stop of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024. These include the 50m freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke, 100m medley, freestyle, and breaststroke, and the 200m breaststroke and medley events.

If you remember, Douglass wrapped up the 2024 Doha World Aquatics Championships with 5 medals. But the most notable of her performances was in the 200-meter individual medley, which admittedly is the hardest race she swims. Beyond that, she has a total of 21 World Championship medals, with 7 from the 2023 stint. And since she has been defending her 200-meter medley title for 2 years now, she likely do that in the upcoming circuit too, starting from the Swimming World Cup.

Regan Smith

Regan Smith’s Paris Olympics stint was nothing short of spectacular. With a 5-medal haul, she bagged 2 golds in both the women and mixed 4×100 medley relays, as well as three silvers in the women’s 100 and 200m backstroke, and the 200m butterfly event. The 22-year-old would be competing in 5 events in Shanghai, namely the women’s 100m and 200m butterfly as well as the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke events.

Smith, being one of the world’s elite backstroke swimmers, is likely to perform exceptionally in these events. Especially the 100 and 200m distances. Remember when Smith was just 17 when she set the 200m backstroke world record? While Kaylee McKeown toppled that later, the two often alternate for the top spot in the event. Thus, it’ll be a gripping contest between the two at the Swimming World Cup 2024.

Michael Andrew

With a total of 158 Aqua and Olympic medals, Michael Andrew’s status as a swimming pro is unquestionable. However, while others have had the chance to compete and elevate their ranks at Paris, Andrew remained absent from the stage. He dropped out of the 200-meter IM event and failed to push through in the others. Thus, he’d sure be looking for a redemption moment in Shanghai.

Locked in for 9 events, the short course master is looking to compete in the men’s 50m freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly, as well as the 100m medley, butterfly, breaststroke, and backstroke events. On top of this, he returns for the 200-meter medley event too, looking to get into the momentum for the World Championships, starting from the Swimming World Cup 2024.

Kieran Smith

24 years old, Kieran Smith is a rising phenom for the American side. But that doesn’t discount the fact that he’s already a 2x Olympic medalist, with his fresh 4×200 freestyle relay addition from Paris. Although he still awaits his gold. With a cumulative of sixteen Swimming World Cup medals, he appears to be a fierce competitor.

Notably, Kieran has entered and has decided to enter his name into 4 events in Shanghai, the men’s 200m medley and freestyle as well as the 400m medley and freestyle. Redemption is something he’ll have on his agenda too. At the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships, he missed both the 400m and 200m medals. And only landed a silver in the 800m freestyle relay. Thus, he’d be looking to turn around the tables in Budapest in December, for which he requires a solid show in the Chinese capital.

Beata Nelson

Speaking of the short course maestros that Team USA will be sending to the Swimming World Cup, there’s also Beata Nelson, a name to look out for. With a total of 13 Swimming World Cup medals, Nelson’s rack is yet to be adorned with World and Olympic titles. Naturally, she’ll be looking to get the ball rolling in Shanghai, participating in 5 events, namely the 100m, 200m backstroke, and medley events as well as the 50m butterfly.

A 3x NCAA champion, Beata also lifted the 2022 World Cup Circuit Overall Champion title and thus, it’d be great to watch what she brings to the Swimming World Cup this year. What do you think about these American pros and their winning chances? Let us know below!