Swimming: Popov sure new records will be made in Shanghai

Four-time Olympic champion Alexander Popov believes the World Championships in Shanghai will witness yet more records - two years after a farcical 43 fell in eight days of competition in Rome.

Popov, who won the 50 metres and 100m freestyle in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, predicted new world marks may be seen in the distance events.

The Russian pointed to Chinese swimmer Sun Yang as one of those most likely to set a new benchmark. Sun set the second fastest time in history in the 1,500m freestyle at last year's Asian Games, less than a second off Grant Hackett's long-standing world record. He also tops the world rankings in all the freestyle events from 200m upwards.

Asked whether records could tumbled, Popov said: "I hope so. Some guys are near in the long distance, the sprints are a bit tough. But I am not Nostradamus, so we will see."

Popov also named American pair Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte as two he is looking forward to seeing but insists the former does not need to repeat his feats of 2008 as he is already a living legend.

"He can swim backwards, upwards and downwards," the 39-year-old said. "Michael Phelps is Michael Phelps, he is up there and we are down here."

Popov was speaking after the Russian city of Kazan was awarded the 2015 World Championships, with Popov a member of the successful delegation. Guadalajara were given the 2017 competition.

The event in China, which begins today when the diving programme gets under way, starts with the participation of defending 50m and 100m freestyle champion Cesar Cielo as yet unresolved.

Cielo was one of four Brazilian swimmers who tested positive for the diuretic Furosemide in May but they were given just a warning by their national federation rather than an outright ban.

Governing body FINA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport with the hearing set for 20 July and a decision due "no later than 22 July", with racing starting on 24 July.

Popov would not be drawn on Cielo's specific case but he did not shirk from the issue of doping in sport insisting it ultimately came down to morals and principles.

"Until the final decision by the Court of Arbitration is made I think we should refrain from commenting because it is a very delicate issue. The IOC is trying to do its best through WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the national Olympic committees but we have to wait."