The 2016 FINA Swimming World Cup is due to begin in Paris-Chartres tomorrow as a number of Rio 2016 Olympic medallists return to action ©FINA

The 2016 International Swimming Federation (FINA) Swimming World Cup is due to begin in Paris-Chartres tomorrow as a number of Rio 2016 Olympic medallists return to action.

Among the stars taking part in the 25 metres pool event this weekend are last year's respective men’s and women’s overall FINA Swimming World Cup winners Cameron Van der Burgh of South Africa and Katinka Hosszú of Hungary.

Van der Burgh won a Rio 2016 silver medal in the 100m breaststroke, while Hosszú won gold in the 100m backstroke, 200m medley, 400m medley and silver in the 200m backstroke.

The stop will also feature South Africa’s Chad le Clos, who won Olympic silver medals in the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly, and Australia’s Madeline Groves, the Rio 2016 runner-up in the 200m butterfly and 4x100m medley.

Other athletes to watch out for are the United States’ Breeja Larson, Jamaica's Alia Atkinson and home favourites Jérémy Stravius and Fabien Gilot, who were part of the French team that claimed silver in the 4x100m freestyle at Rio 2016.

In all, L'Odyssée swimming pool will welcome around 115 swimmers - 71 men and 44 women - representing 28 National Federations to compete in more than 30 events.

This year, the FINA Swimming World Cup returns to the short course format with swimmers having competed in 50m pools in 2015 with Rio 2016 in mind. 

Hungary's Katinka Hosszú will be looking to defend the women's overall FINA Swimming World Cup title ©Getty Images
Hungary's Katinka Hosszú will be looking to defend the women's overall FINA Swimming World Cup title ©Getty Images

The nine-leg circuit is split into three clusters with the first made up of the Paris-Chartres meet as well as those in Berlin, from August 30 to 31, and Moscow, from September 3 to 4.

The second features gatherings in Beijing, from September 30 to October 1, followed by Dubai, from October 4 to 5, and Doha, from October 8 to 9.

The final cluster sees the World Cup head to Singapore from October 21 to 22, with Tokyo playing host on October 25 and 26, and Hong Kong staging the last leg on October 29 and 30.

In order to reward the best athletes and performances, a total prize fund per cluster of $300,000 (£227,000/€266,000) will be distributed.

Additionally, various bonuses for establishment of world records and milestones will be awarded.

Twelve points are awarded for victory in each individual event, with nine for second and six for third.

The overall top three men and top three women will be decided by adding all meet scorings of the participants.