Swimming stars prepare to do battle at world championships with an eye on Rio Olympics
The United States brings a formidable squad to Kazan, Russia, but Michael Phelps is among those missing
With one eye on Rio de Janeiro, swimming's stars begin the battle on Sunday for world championship medals in Kazan, Russia, to prove their form heading into the 2016 Olympics.
As ever, the United States bring a star-studded team to the Tatarstan capital with marquee names including Olympic champions Missy Franklin, Katie Ledecky, Ryan Lochte and Nathan Adrian.
There's a bunch of other people out there. Just because they're not there doesn't mean it should be a shoo-in for me
Treble world record-holder Ledecky is the only American to top the 2015 world rankings in her events, with the year's best times in the 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle.
Ledecky was responsible for breaking two of the six world records which fell in the Barcelona pool at the last world championships.
Franklin won six gold medals in Barcelona, but has something to prove in Kazan after failing to win an event at a Santa Clara meet in June.
Likewise Lochte, who has five Olympic titles and 15 long course world championship victories, is eager to bounce back from a 2014 he called "probably my worst year of swimming".