Just weeks after watching the sport's future stars grace the OCBC Aquatic Centre, Singapore swimming fans will get to watch the real deals in action when the country stages next month's Fina Swimming World Cup.
The Straits Times understands that American four-time Olympic gold medallist Missy Franklin, Australian world champion Emily Seebohm and Hungarian world record holder Katinka Hosszu are among a host of big names who have signed up for the Oct 3- 4 event.
Typically a short-course (25m) meet, the eight-legged World Cup series has adopted a long-course (50m) format this year to act as an Olympic qualifier, as well as to increase the participation of the national federations.
Ang Peng Wee, chairman of the Singapore leg's organising committee, said: "We are excited to announce a star-studded cast at the Fina/airweave Swimming World Cup Singapore 2015 presented by Yakult.
"With world-class swimmers in the line-up... the two-day meet promises to present exhilarating, elite, race action."
Hosszu is a regular face at the Singapore leg, having competed here since 2012.
But it will be the first time that Singaporean fans can catch two-time Fina Swimmer of the Year (female) Franklin, 20, race in the World Cup.
The California-born swimmer made waves at the London Olympics in 2012.
Then 17 years old, she won four golds, including the 200m backstroke title in a world record of 2min 4.06sec.
The mark still stands.
The following year, she stole the show at the World Championships.
She became the first woman to win six golds (three individual, three relays).
Franklin is set for an intriguing backstroke showdown with Seebohm, 23. At last month's World Championships in Kazan, Russia, the Australian dethroned the American in the 100m and 200m back, firing an opening salvo ahead of next year's Olympics.
Seebohm, Franklin and Hosszu finished first, second and third in the 200m back in Kazan.
Hosszu, 26, is also entering top form. She broke Ariana Kukors' six-year-old world 200 metres individual medleyrecord in Kazan, an impressive feat given that Kukors' mark was set in the era of the now-banned rubber suits.
Singapore swimmer Hannah Quek, 15, who had competed at last month's Fina World Youth Championships, said she is looking forward to the 200m back race.
A backstroke specialist, she said: "It is a great opportunity for backstroke swimmers like myself to pick up a few pointers.
"I am sure it will be a very close and tight race and I think this could possibly be the best race we've ever had in Singapore."
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