As swimmers, coaches, programmes and even nations seek a new pathway for competition and debate continues about the best direction for the World Cup and future FINA competition beyond the big championship occasions, some swimmers are putting their efforts where their mouths and hearts on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

The Produal1 meet, the effort of a whole shoal of swimmers backing the Professional Swimming League in the US, offers prizes of $300 for wins, $150 for second place and $50 for third. 

Former Michigan Wolverine and member of the USA Pan Ams team of late, Bobby Savulich joined Club Wolverine Elite coach Mark Hill to put on a points duel, two tribes split east and west, all in the water beyond their 'amateur' days and in need of income to fund their futures in competitive swimming, a sport that pays big dividends to the few but little or nothing to the majority as things stand.

The first meet in the pro series will feature men only - so no change in history there then, the 1896 to 1908 era a men-only affair with women making their Olympic debut in 1912. The difference in the pro league is that plenty of men have come forward for action, less so women but recruitment is underway.

Savulich told Swimming World, the American website: "We decided to go with this format because Dual Meets are the most exciting type of meet. There is nothing better than two teams going head-to-head as opposed to 1,500 swimmers individually competing at a 5-hour meet. Our meet will feature the best and be fan friendly." 

The format: all world title championship solo events minus anything that takes too long, nothing that might get in the way of instant rush, you might say - no 800/1500, and no 400 medley. Perhaps the Pros will find a way to accommodate such things in the future, while giving consideration to the fact that an entire world titles programme in two days does not necessarily make the best spectator sport, taking away the obvious attraction of world-class swimming for those who already love swimming, nor does it generate the best media coverage (too much in too short a time, so what happens is that one or two key lines, like the overall result and one key clash gets the spotlight, all other things take their place in the run).

All credit and good luck, though, to those who are not just talking about change but getting on with it and trying to find a way to make their sport viable for world-class athletes on the cusp of national A team. Particularly important in a country where fifth in the world may mean you never get to race in Stars and Stripes on any big international occasion and are left to sit home wondering why the political stakes are stacked against them: the system allows a developer (and that may well mean fourth best from his country but with the better contacts) from a nation with one pool and no swim programme to speak of to get to race at world titles in the same lane a few heats before Michael Phelps and then enjoy the life-long benefits to be found in the boast of having been an "elite" swimmer who raced with the greatest Olympian - but in a time that Johnny Weissmuller might have sulked at.

The World Cup is open to all those who will race at the ProLeague. The question is: how many could have afforded to travel as Chad Le Clos did? Answer: none if they did not have access to their federation's purse or sponsors or parents with very deep pockets.

Learn more about the Pro league and where its heading at their website.