RIO DE JANEIRO - The preliminaries of the 2001-2002 FINA World Cup got underway Frida, 16 November at 5 pm. Final to be held Saturday the 17th at 9:30am.

212 competitors are taking part 88 from outside the country including Olympic and World Champions Yana Klochkova (UKR) and Roman Sloudnov (RUS). 146 Brazilians are taking part.

In the first sesssion two South American and Brazilain record fell in women's events.

Renata Delaroli, from Brazil, an 18-year swam 25.31 in the 50 free to better the former South American record of 25.36 by Rebecca Gusmao (BRA) from July of 2001.

In the men's 50 butterfly Nicholas Dos Santos, 21, (BRA) betterd his own record of 23.92 from January of 2001 with a 23.82.

These were the highlights of the first session of this first FINA World Cup, one of nine to be concluded next January in Europe.

Other top qualifiers: Gustavo Borges (BRA) in the 100 free 48.57, Rick Say (CAN) in the 400 free 3:48.32, Cleber Costa (BRA) in the 100 back 54.09, Eduardo Fischer (BRA) in the 50 breast 27.69, Terence Parkin (RSA) in the 200 breast 2:12.48, Pedro Monteiro (BRA) in the 200 butterfly 1:58.33, Oleg Lisogor (UKR) in the 100 im 56.18.

Top women's qualifiers Lindsay Benko (USA) in the 200 free 2:00.57, Charlene Wittstock (RSA) in the 50 back 28.45, Elizabeth Wycliffe (CAN) in the 200 back 2:12.00, Rhiannon Leier (CAN) in the 100 breaststroke 1:09.25, Johanna Sjoberg (SWE) in the 100 butterfly 59.81, Yana Klochkova (UKR) in the 200 im.

The competition contines over two more days.