Imagine this: Some of the world's most elite swimmers, fresh off the blocks, trading the pool for the hardwood! That's exactly what happened when the NBA's Chicago Bulls hosted a group of aquatic athletes before the Westmont stop of the World Cup.
Nine of the planet's top competitive swimmers got a unique experience at the Chicago Bulls' practice facility, a chance to step away from the pool and into the world of basketball. The Bulls themselves shared the moment on Instagram, captioning it with a simple, celebratory message: "Hosted some world class swimmers from @world_aquatics at the practice facility today ✨".
The 'Notable Nine' included some serious swimming powerhouses: Australia's Kaylee McKeown and Mollie O'Callaghan, Canada's Josh Liendo, Italy's Thomas Ceccon, Switzerland's Noe Ponti, Great Britain's Adam Peaty, Hungary's Hubert Kos, and the United States' Regan Smith and Kate Douglass. These athletes, all committed to the full World Cup circuit, spent time with the Bulls organization and even got to hang out with Benny the Bull, the team's iconic mascot. Originally, Summer McIntosh was also scheduled to compete, but had to withdraw due to illness, with Peaty stepping in as her replacement.
The first leg of the World Cup proved fruitful for many of these swimmers. Kate Douglass secured three victories, placing her just behind Gretchen Walsh in the World Cup point standings. Regan Smith set an American Record in the 200 butterfly and outswam McKeown in the 100 backstroke. Hubert Kos dominated the backstroke events, sweeping all three races in Carmel and earning a leading 58.4 points in the men's standings.
The second stop of the World Aquatics World Cup is set to begin on Friday and run through Sunday at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont, Illinois, conveniently located a mere 20 miles from the Bulls' training facility.
But here's where it gets interesting... Could this cross-sport interaction spark a new wave of training techniques or a fresh perspective on athletic performance? What do you think about the potential benefits of athletes from different sports connecting and learning from each other? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
