Steenbergen, Kornev lead World Cup into Tashkent stop
Marrit Steenbergen and Egor Kornev lead the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup standings after Baku and aim to extend their leads at the second Silk Road Tour stop in Tashkent from October 8-10.
Marrit Steenbergen and Egor Kornev lead the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup standings after dominant performances at the opening stop in Baku. The second leg of the three-stop Silk Road Tour runs from October 8-10 at the Palace of Water Sports in Tashkent's Olympic City complex.
Netherlands star Marrit Steenbergen tops the women's rankings with 58.2 points. Russia's Egor Kornev leads the men with 59.3 points. Both swimmers will defend their positions against a strong international field in Uzbekistan.
Steenbergen targets repeat success in Tashkent
Marrit Steenbergen won four individual gold medals in Baku. Her victories came in the 50 backstroke, 100 backstroke, 100 individual medley, and 100 freestyle. She also secured a silver in the 200 IM.
For the Tashkent meet, Steenbergen is entered in a demanding schedule. She will contest the 50, 100, and 200 meter freestyles. The Dutch swimmer is also down for the 50 and 100 backstrokes and the 100 and 200 individual medleys. "It's been a really good start to the World Cup in Baku, and I'm happy to be leading the overall standings," Steenbergen said.
Belgium's Roos Vanotterdijk sits second in the women's standings with 54.2 points after a successful Baku campaign. She won gold in the 100 butterfly and 50 butterfly, took silver in the 100 IM, and earned bronze in the 50 back. "I'm happy with how Baku went and to be so close to my best times gives me a lot of motivation for Tashkent," Vanotterdijk stated.
The women's standings after the first stop are as follows:
| Swimmer | Country | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrit Steenbergen | NED | 58.2 | 1st |
| Roos Vanotterdijk | BEL | 54.2 | 2nd |
| Yu Yiting | CHN | 53.7 | 3rd |
| Anna Peplowski | - | - | 4th |
| Mona McSharry | IRL | 50.4 | 5th |
Other notable women's entries in Tashkent include China's Yu Yiting in the 200 fly and multiple IMs, Ireland's Mona McSharry across the breaststroke events, Russia's Evgeniia Chikunova in breaststroke, Ireland's Ellen Walshe in fly and IM, and Britain's Freya Colbert in freestyle and backstroke. The women's 1500 freestyle features seven entries, with timed submissions ranging from 15:42 to 18:34.
Kornev aims to defend sprint titles and world record pace
Egor Kornev delivered a stunning performance in Baku. The Russian sprinter tied the world record in the men's 100 meter freestyle with a time of 44.84 seconds. He also set a World Cup record in the 50 backstroke and won the 50 butterfly.
In Tashkent, Kornev will compete in the 50 and 100 freestyle, the 50 backstroke, and the 50 butterfly. He aims to solidify his lead in the overall standings. Australia's Luke Barr moved to second place after winning three events in Baku: the 200 breaststroke, 100 IM, and 200 IM.
The men's World Cup points after the first stop are:
| Swimmer | Country | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egor Kornev | RUS | 59.3 | 1st |
| Luke Barr | CLB | 57.4 | 2nd |
| Pieter Coetze | RSA | 55.6 | 3rd |
| Carson Foster | - | - | 4th |
| Juner Chen | CHN | 52.9 | 5th |
South Africa's Pieter Coetze, third overall, is entered in the 100 free, backstroke events, and the 100 IM. Other key male entrants include Australian sprinter Cameron McEvoy in the 50 and 100 free and 50 fly, China's Chen Juner in freestyle and butterfly, and Dutch swimmer Caspar Corbeau across the breaststroke and IM events.
World Cup moves to Tashkent for second Silk Road Tour stop
The competition continues in Uzbekistan as part of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup series. All events are swum in the short course meters format. The Palace of Water Sports will host the action from October 8-10.
Poland's Kasia Wasick is among those with a heavy program, entered in events ranging from the 1500 freestyle to the 400 IM. The World Cup proceeds to its third and final stop after Tashkent as part of the Silk Road Tour.
