US-Europe showdown set for December

Top American and European swimmers will meet in December in the fifth Duel in the Pool on December 16-17 at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, USA Swimming announced on Friday. The biennial event is designed to showcase swim stars ahead of the upcoming 2012 London Olympics in a short-course meters event. Americans have won the prior competitions against Australian squads. "The Duel in the Pool is a fantastic celebration of our sport," said USA Swimming executive director Chuck Wielgus. The American roster, to be set at the end of October, will be taken from top finishers at the US and world championships, the World University Games and Pan American Games. A European All-Star squad of up to 22 men and 22 women has already seen commitments from world championship meet swimmers from Britain, Netherlands, Poland, Belarus, Denmark, Austria and Lithuania. More than $100,000 in prize money is on offer for the event, with winners taking $1,500 and any world records bringing up to $15,000.