INTERNATIONALS TO WATCH
Katie Ledecky
The four-time Olympic gold medallist will look to repeat her 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle clean sweep from Kazan. The American looks unbeatable in the 400 and 800, but super Swede Sarah Sjostrom will provide a real challenge in the 200m.
Duncan Scott
With no Kyle Chalmers, fellow Aussie Cameron McEvoy is favourite to take out the blue riband 100m freestyle. But Scott will be right there taking it up to him as the first Brit to ever touch the wall under 48 seconds. He will represent Scotland on the Gold Coast next year.
Penny Oleksiak
Only just turned 17, the Canadian became the first Olympic champion born in the 21st century. She was also the the first Canadian to win four medals in the same Summer Games. She now has the chance to back up her Olympic gold in the 100m freestyle with a world title.
Chase Kalisz
With Michael Phelps racing sharks in retirement and Ryan Lochte “dancing with the stars” while suspended, these worlds will be the first major international meet not to feature either since 2000. So can the US continue its domination of the 200m IM? It’ll be up to Kalisz.
Katinka Hosszu
Competing in her home pool, the Hungarian “Iron Lady” will look for another dominant display after securing three gold (in both IMs and the 100m backstroke) at the Rio Games. While Aussie Emily Seebohm is a threat, US star Missy Franklin is out injured.
Joseph Schooling
The American-based Singaporean, who beat Michael Phelps to glory in the 100m butterfly in Rio to collect his country’s first ever gold medal, will contest the 50m, 100m and 200m fly, and the 100m freestyle. He wants to break Phelps' 100m fly world record of 49.82sec.