Swimming worlds open post-Michael Phelps era

BARCELONA, Spain - The biennial FINA world championships begin Saturday and for the first time in more than a decade Michael Phelps won't be competing.

Instead, the spotlight should fall on athletes like Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen of China, Chad le Clos of South Africa, Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin of the United States, and 16-year-old Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania.

"We will see how many stars come up, I have no doubt. Life goes on and on," FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu told The Associated Press.

Olympic and world champion Sun Yang prepares for his upcoming 400m and 1,500m freestyle events in the World Swimming Championships in Barcelona, Spain, on July 23， 2013. It is the first training session for the Chinese swimming team since they arrived in Barcelona. [Photo/Xinhua] More photos on Sun Yang

The first week of the championships is highlighted by diving - with that spectacular view of the city from the same Montjuic pool used for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics - plus open water swimming in the harbor.

Swimming and synchronized swimming will be held inside the Palau Sant-Jordi arena, which was also built for the 1992 Games, while water polo will be contested outside in the nearby Bernat Picornell.

All of the venues are the same from the 2003 worlds which Barcelona hosted, except for temporary towers that have been built for the debut of high diving, with men set to leap from 27 meters (30 yards) and women from 20 meters (22 yards).

"The facilities are excellent, each one with its merits, conditions, and history, and not only with an excellent history, they are facilities that have been updated so they are first rate," FINA president Julio Maglione said.

Prize money spread across the six disciplines amounts to $3.1 million and a record 2,293 athletes have entered.

The biggest crowds could come for high diving, which is free for fans, with organizers hoping that 25,000-30,000 spectators show up for the daring display which sees athletes fly through the air for three seconds at speeds of up to 90 kph (55 mph).