Michael Andrew is only 19, but he has been an outlier for years. In 2013, after breaking more than 30 U.S. age-group records, he turned professional at age 14. No American swimmer had ever turned pro that young. And by doing so, he forfeited a chance to compete for an American university. Instead, Andrew continued to train at home in Kansas, in a two-lane pool, coached full-time by his father, Peter, using a highly-unconventional training method.

It's called Ultra-Short Race-Pace Training (or USRPT), which involves very low volume, all at race pace.

The penultimate leg of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 concluded last night, November 11, in Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center (JPN) as overall ranking leader Vladimir Morozov of Russia equalled his own World Record in the 100m IM and China's Xu Jiayu broke the 100m back World Record.

During these three days in Tokyo (JPN), Russian Vladimir Morozov played an important role and showed his charismatic presence. The swimming ace marked a tie short-course World new Record in the 100m IM and two World Cup Records in the 50m and 100m freestyle.

Hungarian superstar Katinka Hosszu participated in the 400m IM today, November 10, when she grabbed her third gold medal in Tokyo, the second day of the penultimate leg of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018.

Hosszu, who won the latter race in 4:21.91 said:

“I am really happy with this result. I love this particular race, the 400m IM!”

The most noteworthy race today was the women's 100m Individual Medley, because World Cup point ranking leader Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) was beaten Katinka Hosszu (HUN), who follows the Swedish ace by 15 points. In addition, this race was also competed by home nation star Rikako Ikee and Alia Atkinson (JAM), the World Record holder in the 50m breaststroke.

The FINA Swimming World Cup, which decides the world's fastest in the short course, is stopping in Tokyo (JPN) from November 9-11 as this year's edition and the swimmers have already showen high-level performances for the world's audience.

Russian Vladimir Morozov set a short course World Record in the 100m IM at the Eindhoven stage. In addition, he retained good results in Budapest and was Cluster 2's overall winner.

A happy ending for big stars, such as Vladimir Morozov (RUS), Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), Mitchell Larkin (AUS), Alia Atkinson (JAM), Kirill Prigoda (RUS), Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) and Katinka Hosszu (HUN) all snatched golds on the last day of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 in the Water Cube, Beijing, China, on Sunday November 4, while two-time Olympic champion Ye Shiwen made a strong comeback after two years of rest.

With one gold in her favourite 400m IM and a silver in the 100m backstroke, Katinka Hosszu (HUN) enjoyed her "home advantage" in the Water Cube while Chinese World champion Xu Jiayu claimed the victory in the 50m backstroke on the second day of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 in Beijing (CHN) on Saturday November 3.

The Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu of Hungary and top leader on the men's ranking Vladimir Morozov of Russia each claimed two gold medals on the first day of the FINA Swimming World Cup in Beijing (CHN) on Friday November 2, while local favourites Xu Jiayu and three other Chinese swimmers won four medals for the hosts team.

Hosszu, who collected 31 medals (20-3-8) from the previous stops and No.1 in the World Cup medal tally before the Beijing leg, took two more golds in the 100m individual medley 57.05 and 200m butterfly 2:02.88.