Carter splashes off FINA World Cup Defence

Trinidad & Tobago’s Dylan Carter began defense of his 2022 FINA Swimming World Cup overall men’s title in the men’s 50m freestyle event at the Europa Sports Park, SSE Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Last year, the 27-year-old Carter won all three finals in the 50m freestyle, 50 butterflies, and 50m backstroke at all three legs of the World Cup to claim the men’s overall title ahead of USA’s Nick Fink, with just three points separating the T&T swimmer, and the American in the hunt for the US$160,000 in prize money.

At the first leg in Berlin at the same venue, Carter ripped his first sub-21 seconds swim of his career to overcome a stacked field in the men’s 50m freestyle final, with a time of 20.77, bettering his previous best of 21.09. He also broke the T&T national record of 20.82, which was held by Olympic bronze medallist George Bovell since 2012.

Carter also won the 50m backstroke event in 23.15, setting a new national record after lowering his previous mark of 23.19 from the 2018 FINA Short Course World Championships, and he then made it 3-for-3 with his 50m butterfly victory in 22.13, just off his lifetime best of 21.98.Carter, champions Chad Le Clos (South Africa), Adam Peaty (Great Britain), Thomas Ceccon (Italy), and Fink will all compete for a total prize purse of US$1.2 million, before factoring in bonuses.

Speaking to World Aquatics, Carter said, “I’m definitely hungry to take on some more 50s this year and maybe even throw a 100 in there. I don’t think at all about defending the title. It is a long course this year so I look at it as a whole new challenge. I know there will be great competitors at all competitions, so I hope they will push me to some fast results.”

Short course metres is his forte due to his strength coming off the wall and Carter carries speed off the push better than almost anybody in the world. But with this season being held in long course for Olympic preparation purposes, the challenge is going to be greater for Carter, who made two semi-finals in the 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.