By Sharon Robb
September 2, 2016—Alia Atkinson of South Florida Aquatic Club will not compete in the third and final stop of the first cluster in the FINA/Airweave World Cup Series Saturday in Moscow and is headed home.
The four-time Jamaican Olympian is currently second in the points standings with 121 points, 137 behind Hungarian Olympic gold medalist Katinka Hosszu with 258.
In her last outing in Berlin, Atkinson, 27, won the 50-meter breaststroke in 29.00 on the second and final day, and silver in the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:03.12. She was fourth in the 100-meter individual medley in 59.83.
Atkinson was in line for a $35,000 bonus but had to swim in Moscow to remain eligible.
In the opening stop in Chartres-Paris, Atkinson tied her short course world record in the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:02.36.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com