Top Stars of the 2022 Swimming World Championships

The 2022 FINA World Championships will start in less than a month now, so it’s time to check the biggest stars competing in Budapest next month. Including American, British, and Australian Olympic champions from Katie Ledecky to Kyle Chalmers. But local favorites, Kristof Milak and Katinka Hosszu will also belong to the top stars of the 2022 Swimming World Championships. 

The 2021 FINA Aquatic World Championships were scheduled to take place in Fukuoka, Japan, but it was postponed to this year. But following the health situation in the country, the event was postponed again to next year. The FINA announced in February that Budapest will host an extra championship this summer. To offer another opportunity for all athletes to compete. The Hungarian capital will host the event for the second time after 2017.

The swimming competition takes place at the Duna Arena between 18-25 June. Though all Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from competing in the event, fans can still see some of the best swimmers in Budapest. Including multiple Olympic champions and the rising stars of the sport. 

American Champions in Top Stars of the 2022 Swimming World Championships 

Let’s start with the US team as it has been the most successful team in the last 9 World Championships. And they are likely to win the medal table again. One of their most experienced and successful swimmers is Katie Ledecky who won two gold medals in 800m and 1500m freestyle.

Besides her two silver medals in 400m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 25-year-old swimmer also has 11 individual gold medals from the world championships. She is hugely favored to add a few more to her collection by the online sportsbook news in the US. 

Just like Caeleb Dressel who is also named in the top stars of the 2022 Swimming World Championships. The American swimmer won an incredible five gold medals in Tokyo. In 50m and 100m freestyle, in 100m butterfly, and as a member of the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays.

He also has good memories from Budapest after winning seven gold medals there in the 2017 World Championships. But other great US swimmers like the 2016 Olympic champion in the 100m breaststroke, Lily King. And the 2020 Olympic champion in the 400m medleys, Chase Kalisz will also compete. Along with representatives of the younger generation. Such as 21-year-old Hunter Armstrong who broke the world record in 50m backstrokes last month. 

Top Australian and English Swimmers

Australia finished second behind the US in the medal table in the previous world championships. But they will only compete in this year’s event with a reduced team. Still, we can find some great swimmers in their team like the 2016 Olympic champion in 100m freestyle, Kyle Chalmers. Or the reigning Olympic champion in 200m breaststroke, Zac Stubblety-Cook who broke the world record this week at the Australian Swimming Championship. Sadly women stars like Emma McKeon and Ariarne Titmus will miss the event. In their absence 20-year-old, Kaylee Mckeown can bring the gold medal who is also a two-time Olympic champion from Tokyo. 

Probably the biggest star of the British team, Adam Peaty will also miss the competition in Budapest following breaking a bone in his foot. But his teammates, Duncan Scott and Matthew Richards, cn aim for medals. Though their biggest chance of winning will be in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.

Where the British team is the reigning Olympic champion. While they also won the men’s 4x100m medley relay in the previous world championships in 2019. American and the Australian relays can be their biggest rivals for the gold now according to online gambling sites in the US.  

Local Favorites

Hungarian fans will also have big hopes for gold medals thanks to their current top swimmer, Kristof Milak. He is the 2020 Olympic champion and the defending world champion in the 200m butterfly which he is favored to win again. Milak can also fight for the gold in the 100m butterfly where he finished second behind Dressel in Tokyo. What’s more, he can even race in other disciplines as well and win some extra medals in front of the home crowd. Just like Szebasztian Szabo, who is the defending European champion in the 50m butterfly. 

Another Hungarian star, Katinka Hosszu will fight for more good results even though she hasn’t been in her top form in the last few years. The 33-year-old champion has three Olympic and 9 world titles but she hasn’t won any medals in Tokyo. The Iron lady can’t be underestimated though as she is the defending world champion and the world record holder of both the 200m and 400m medley.

Supported by Hungarian fans, she might add more medals to her impressive collection. Boglarka Kapas is also the defending world champion in the women’s 200m butterfly while she finished fourth in the Olympics. She was struggling with injuries recently so her participation is still not sure in this year’s main event.

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