By Terin Frodyma on SwimSwam
World Aquatics World Cup #1 – Baku
October 1-3, 2026 Baku Aquatic Palace, Baku, Azerbaijan SCM (25 meters) Meet Central Results Psych SheetWe are just hours away from the start of the World Aquatics World Cup stop in Baku, and some fast swimming is sure to come with it.
Here are a few storylines to keep an eye on over the three-day meet in Azerbaijan.
Cam McEvoy Set to Shine on Silk Road
Arguably the biggest men’s name in attendance in Baku will be Australian sprint superstar Cam McEvoy. As Australia’s only representative at this first World Cup stop, he will be one of the main attractions for eyes worldwide.
McEvoy is entered in three events: the 50 and 100 freestyles, and 50 butterfly. We know that he is the undisputed fastest 50 freestyler in history with his 20.88 long-course 50 free World Record from the China Open back in March. Now we get to see him back in a 25-meter pool and show off his prowess once again.
The biggest race to watch will be the 100 free, as he previously said he was training for it in hopes of racing on the 4×100 free relay at the Short Course World Championships in December.
Fans have seen the unique training that has propelled him to where he is now, but it has largely been in preparation for the 50 free, so it will be a treat to see him return to an event he hasn’t raced since this time three years ago.
McEvoy chose not to compete at the Australian Short Course Championships, focusing strictly on this World Cup.
McEvoy is a must-see sight every time that he touches the water. When he goes toe-to-toe with the likes of Egor Kornev and Andrei Minakov, we may be on the cusp of some seriously fast times, which could signal what’s to come over the rest of the World Cup and as we near the Short Course World Championships.
US Swimmers… Small But Mighty?
The US team at this first stop of the World Cup may not be as deep or as large as it has been in years past, with only four swimmers here representing the Stars and Stripes: Shaine Casas, Charlie Clark, Jack Dahlgren, and Carson Foster.
Several other US swimmers are representing their club teams in Baku; some of those names include Anna Peplowski, Brian Benzing, and Luke Barr.
Shaine Casas (photo: Jack Spitser)
Casas is the immediate eye-opener: after parting ways with Bob Bowman and the Texas pro group, fans will be watching closely as he steps back into the spotlight following a Pan Pacs performance that left many wanting a bit more.
Casas is entered in a slew of events: 200 free, 50/100/200 back, and the 100/200/400 IM. He almost certainly won’t go through with racing every one of these events (largely because this is only a three-day meet).
Carson Foster (photo: Jack Spitser)
Foster is one of the headliner names for this meet, entered in the 200/400/1500 free, 200 back, 200 fly, and 200/400 IM. Like Casas, Foster won’t race all of these events, but whatever he does decide to race, he will be a favorite and a threat to deliver something special.
Barr is coming off one of the best long-course seasons of his career, and now, heading into the short-course season, he will have his moment to carry that success into the new season. He is set to race in the 50/100 breast and the 100/200 IM, focuses he has worked on for the better part of two years.
Can Steenbergen Steamroll Like it’s Summer Again?
Another of the long-course season’s stars will be in Baku: LC 100 freestyle world record-holder Marrit Steenbergen.
Steenbergen is possibly the most enticing female swimmer at this meet; she is entered in the 50/100/200 free, 50/100 back, and 100/200 IMs. Of those seven events, Steenbergen holds the European record in five (all but the 50 free and 100 back).
Marrit Steenbergen (photo: European Aquatics)
She was a menace this summer, clocking a world record in the 100 free in 51.60 (LCM), and clocking the fastest 100 freestyle relay split in history in 50.74 as the anchor leg of the 4×100 medley relay. With this being the first look at short course competition this season, and with the amount of talent in attendance, this should be a great chance for one of the fastest swimmers in the world to get off to a quick start ahead of Short Course Worlds.
Steenbergen will have a few intriguing matchups in Baku, including Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey; the two will face off in the 50 free, 100 free, and 200 free. Since Haughey sat out the short-course season last year with injury, we may see some of the best versions of both athletes.
We will see if Steenbergen decides to swim all three events against Haughey, but no matter what she races, if Steenbergen is even half as impressive as she has been over the last several months, we will see some strong early-season times turned in by the Dutch talent.
Coetze, Kornev, Vanotterdijk Shift Focus to Short Course With High Aspirations
Pieter Coetze, Egor Kornev, and Roos Vanotterdijk have established themselves as some of the top talents on the planet. After their long-course season, these three international stars will go full steam ahead to make sure their efforts this summer translate to the short-course water.
Pieter Coetze (photo: Mickael Malaper/Malaper Photography)
Coetze ended his summer season at the Commonwealth Games, where he swept the backstroke events in 24.18, 51.77, and 1:54.22. That 51.77 was the second-fastest performance in history and further established him as one of the sport’s top young talents. In Baku, Coetze is entered in all three backstroke races, in addition to the 100 free and 100 IM.
Egor Kornev (photo: Mickael Malaper/Malaper Photography)
Kornev was one of Russia’s breakout swimmers this summer, though he won only one title at the European Championships: the 50 fly (22.52). Kornev had one of the best meets of his career in June at the Russian Championships, clocking 21.06 and 46.96 in the 100 free, making him one of the fastest sprinters in history. His sprint prowess will be on full display in Azerbaijan, as he is entered in the 50/100 free and the 50-meter fly and back races.
Roos Vanotterdijk (photo: Mickael Malaper/Malaper Photography)
Vanotterdijk is one of the most versatile swimmers in the world, and she put that on full display at the European Championships, where she was a three-time podium finisher, including a win in the 100 fly in 56.08. At this first World Cup stop, the diverse Belgian talent is entered in a slew of events: 50/100 free, 50/100 back, 200 breast, 50/100 fly, and the 100/200 IMs, though it is almost certain she will not take all that on during this first stop.
These three are some of the best in the world at what they do, and with the looming Short Course Worlds, they’ll be in strong positions to be not only podium threats, but gold medal hopefuls come December; the path to those potential prizes starts on the Silk Road.
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