The official rules of the U.S. Grand Prix series limited Hungarian sensation Katinka Hosszu to just a 7-event lineup in Orlando, a light load compared to her usual weekends.
Still, it was enough to rocket Hosszu to 2nd on the Grand Prix points standings list, despite the fact that she didn’t compete at either of the series’ first two stops.
Hosszu scored 27 points over the weekend, winning 4 races, taking second twice and claiming third once. She now sits just half a point back of leader Megan Romano, who has led the standings the entire way.
A quick refresher: the Grand Prix series doles out prize money to the top 3 finishers in each event. The winner takes $500, second place $300 and third $100. In addition, athletes earn points for a running total throughout the circuit’s six stops, with the high-point winner on the men’s and women’s sides receiving a yearlong lease of a brand-new BMW. The points correlate with the prize money – 5 for first, 3 for second, 1 for third, so the points standings also double as a “top money-earners” list.
Of course, not all athletes will accept the prize money. Current college athletes or those who plan to swim there later in their careers will forgo their earnings to maintain eligibility under NCAA rules. Therefore this list is for money earned, not neccessarily money recieved.
Hosszu put up easily the best weekend points- and money-wise that we’ve seen this season. She brought in $2700. The best single-meet haul previously was Frenchman Yannick Agnel‘s $1800 performance in Austin.
Though they both sit near the top of the standings, neither of those two will be eligible for the car lease itself. Grand Prix rules limit the BMW prize to U.S. swimmers only, so if a foreign athlete finishes atop the standings, the lease will go to the highest eligible athlete.
Agnel still sits tied with NBAC teammate Conor Dwyer for the men’s lead, despite neither man swimming in Orlando. Their 27 points lead a pair of men who put up big weekends: Arkady Vyatchanin and Michael McBroom. Those two are both tied for third place with 22.
Closing in behind Romano and Hosszu for the women is Caitlin Leverenz, who’s been a steady presence on the series so far. This was her lowest-scoring weekend (just 4 points), but she still sits at 25 total, just two-and-a-half back.
Women’s Top 10
1. Megan Romano 27.5
2. Katinka Hosszu 27
3. Caitlin Leverenz 25
4. Audrey Lacroix 14
5. Hilary Caldwell 13
5. Katie Ledecky 13
5. Kiera Janzen 13
5. Kierra Smith 13
9. Chloe Sutton 12
9. Laura Sogar 12
Men’s Top 10
1. Conor Dwyer 27
1. Yannick Agnel 27
3. Arkady Vyatchanin 22
3. Michael McBroom 22
5. Cesar Cielo 21
6. David Verraszto 15
7. BJ Johnson 13
8. Adam Brown 11.5
9. Mike Alexandrov 10
9. Nathan Adrian 10
9. Ross Murdoch 10
9. Tom Luchsinger 10
I feel like I may be overlooking something, but I have to wonder: how are these meets really financially viable? If the most prolific racer in the world can only come out with $2700 then how do people make money doing these meets?
How would this meet be in any way financially successful for Michael Andrew, who probably travelled to the meet for 2000 bucks and came away with something like $150? Is there some kind of appearance or sponsorship money that makes people participate or is the allure of racing at semi-major meets enough to keep high-level swimmers coming again and again despite financial losses?
mcgillrocks – yes, lots of sponsorship appearance fees will include money for these meets. National Team athletes get their travel costs covered at different levels, so that helps for those cases.
Braden – That would make a really interesting article – the economics of the sport at the higher level. What is subsidized? What is sponsored? What sorts of income is being used to sustain competitors at the highest levels? Obviously, every swimmer’s situation is going to be unique, but for some of us, getting an idea as to the financial balance sheet involved in the sport would be very interesting.
You must finish 1 – 2 – 3 to be in the money at a Grand Prix Meet; 1st pays $500/ 2 pays $300 and Third pays $100. This is the only way to score points as well, this is for the race to the BMW lease. So Michael Andrews has not made any money this weekend as near as I can tell, unless he was on a relay that placed top 3; and I’m not sure those pay any prize money or points.
Are foreigners who come to USA Grand Prix meets eligible for drug testing? She scares me.
Really? You just had to say that?
Her breaststroke technique scares you?
🙂
PsychoDad —
You’re right, it’s hard to see that picture and not…..have thoughts.
Miss Romano can be a little worried in my opinion.
Hosszu starts probably to be interested in the car.
I think you can already give her the keys.
I wonder if Hosszu would even accept the car. She’s got a sponsorship with Audi, I believe.
The car is a non-issue for Hosszu since she isn’t a U.S. swimmer, right?
sven – yes, I guess you’re correct, as the car can only be own by a U.S. Citizen. However, she is now married to an American citizen, so depending on how fast she wanted to push through paperwork, she could become a U.S. citizen. She would have to have a U.S. driver’s license and be a USA Swimming member as well (couldn’t answer either of those things with 100% certainty).
The rules don’t state, however, that she has to represent the U.S. just that she has to be a U.S. citizen.
The above hoops may not be worth jumping through given that it’s just a lease and that she’s not based in the U.S. as of now.
Sorry. I didn’t know that rule.
So Yannick Agnel isn’t eligible either.
I don’t think Yannick even has a driver’s license yet.
Too bad Bobo doesn’t get the car, he’s the most interested in it.
You still have to put gas in it Bobo.
brutal!