FINA World Swimming Championships 2012: Dates, Event Schedule and More

The 2012 FINA Swimming World Championships are ready to kickoff for the 11th time in Istanbul, Turkey on Wednesday. Dubai hosted the bi-annual event last in 2010.

This edition is being hyped by Dr. Julio C. Maglione, FINA’s president, as the “greatest competition” that will include “unforgettable moments,” according to the Hürriyet Daily News.

Notable swimmers participating include Ryan Locthe of the USA, Ye Shiwen of China, Florent Manaudou of France, Federica Pellegrini of Italy and Laszlo Cseh of Hungary.

Several big names will be absent, though.

Michael Phelps was invited to come to the event as a spectator after having ended his swimming career following the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Also missing will be French Olympic champions Camille Muffat and Yannick Agnel. Both set recent world records.

Agnel, 20, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, set the 400-meter freestyle world record during the French swimming championships in November.

Muffat, a former Olympic gold medalist as well, set the women’s 800-meter freestyle record at the same event. She blew the record away, beating it by more than two seconds.

 

Where: Sinan Erdem Arena, Istanbul, Turkey

When: Weds., Dec. 12 to Sun., Dec. 16

Times: Heats at 10 a.m. (local time) / semifinals and finals at 9 p.m. (local time) each day

 

Participating Countries

Approximately 1,100 swimmers who represent 162 different countries will be involved in competition during the five-day event. That’s an addition of nine new countries from the 2010 event in Dubai, according to SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.

 

Awards

The championships will award gold, silver and bronze medals to each of the top three places in each event’s finals. But those who don’t finish atop their respective heats won’t be left out in the cold. Diplomas will be awarded to nearly all those reaching the finals of each event.

Prize Money

There will be a total of US $400,000 available for swimmers to earn at the event. First-place finishers will receive $5,000 per event, second place will fetch $3,000 and third place will bring home $2,000.

If a world record is set, swimmers receive an additional $15,000 on top of the prize money from placing in the event.

Event Schedule

Day 1 (Weds., Dec. 12)

Heats 10 a.m. local time

Men

200-meter freestyle (free), 100-meter backstroke (back), 100-meter breaststroke (breast), 100-meter Butterfly (fly), 4x100-meter free

Women

50-meter breast, 200-meter fly, 100-meter back, 400-meter individual medley (IM), 4x200-meter free

Semifinals and Finals 7 p.m. local time

Men

200-meter free, 100-meter back (semi), 100-meter Breast (semi), 100-meter Fly (semi), 4x100-meter free

Women

50-meter Breast (semi), 200-meter fly, 100-meter Back (semi), 400-meter IM, 4x200-meter free

Day 2 (Thurs., Dec. 12)

Heats - 10 a.m. local time

Men

400-meter IM, 50-meter free, 4x200-meter free

Women

100-meter free, 50-meter fly, 10-meter IM, 800-meter free (slow heats)

Semifinals and Finals - 7 p.m. Local time

Men

400-meter IM, 100-meter back, 50-meter free (semi), 100-meter breast, 100-meter fly, 4x200-meter free

Women

100-meter free (semi), 50-meter breast, 50-meter fly (Semi), 100-meter back, 100-meter IM (semi), 800-meter free (fastest heat)

Day 3 (Fri., Dec. 14)

Heats - 10 a.m. Local time

Men

50-meter back, 50-meter fly, 400-meter free, 200-meter IM, 200-meter breast

Women

200-meter back, 100-meter breast, 400-meter free, 4x100-meter medley

Semifinals and Finals - 7 p.m. Local time

Men

50-meter back (semi), 50-meter fly (semi), 200-meter breast, 400-meter free, 50-meter free, 200-meter IM

Women

100-meter free, 200-meter back, 50-meter fly, 100-meter breast (semi), 400-meter free, 100-meter IM, 4x100-meter medley

Day 4 (Sat., Dec. 15)

Heats - 10 a.m. Local time

Men

100-meter free, 100-meter IM, 50-meter breast

Women

50-meter back, 100-meter fly, 50-meter free, 200-meter IM, 4x100-meter free

Semifinals and Finals - 7 p.m. Local time

Men

50-meter back, 100-meter free (semi), 50-meter fly, 100-meter IM (semi), 50-meter breast

Women

100-meter breast, 50-meter Back (semi), 50-meter Free (semi), 100-meter fly (semi), 200-meter IM, 4x100-meter free

Day 5 (Sun., Dec. 16)

Heats - 10 a.m. Local time

Men

200-meter back, 200-meter fly, 4x100-meter medley, 1500-meter free (Slow heats)

Women

200-meter breast, 200-meter free

Semifinals and Finals - 7 p.m. Local time

Men

100-meter free, 200-meter back, 100-meter IM, 50-meter breast, 200-meter fly, 1500-meter free (Fastest heat), 4x100-meter medley

Women

50-meter back, 200-meter breast, 100-meter fly, 50-meter free, 200-meter free