PARIS - Georges Vallerey, Les Tourelles, a traditional venue for Frances World Cup meeting, with 39 countries represented-the largest number so far.

Gustavo Borges of Brazil won the opening event, the 100 freestyle, for the fourth time in the current 12 stage World Cup Series; his winning time, 47.78, also confirmed his consistency. Christopher Fydler, of Australia, came in second with 48.05.

In the women 200 free Mette Jacobsen (DEN) won with a 1:58.47 over Laura Nicholls (CAN) 1:59.15. Franziska van Almsick (GER) was in third place with 1:59.21.

Less than 15 minutes later Jacobsen won also the 100 fly, in 59.92, over Junko Onishi (JPN), 1:00.06 and Susan O'Neill (AUS), whose time of 1:00.15, was slower than her 100 split in her Malmoe 200 fly world record race.

In the men's breaststroke Fred Deburghgraeve (BEL) won the the 50 in 27.73. It was a tight race between him and his two main contenders in this Cup, Zhu Yi (CHN), 28.79 Jens Kruppa (GER) 27.95. Zhu won his third consecutive 200 in 2:10.68, the fastest winning time in this years world cup. Kruppa came in a close second with 2:10.74.

Samantha Riley (AUS) won the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.16 over Li Wei (CHN) 1:09.98 and Megan Quann (USA) 1:09.99.

Tom Wilkens won the 400 IM in 4:13.76, improving his winning time of Malmo by over a second. It was not an easy victory for the American swimmer who was challegend by Christian Keller (GER), in second with 4:13.94. Mickey Halika (ISR), in third 4:14.78, for the first World Cup medal for Israel this year. Christian Keller (GER) won the 100 IM event in 55.31 over Scott Tucker (USA) with 56.04.

27-year-old butterfly specialist Franck Esposito (FRA) was a surprising winner in the 100 backstroke with 53.63, over specialist Martin Harris (GBR) 54.32 and Orn Arnarson (ISL) 54.32.

Antje Buschschulte, (GER) won the 50 backstroke in 28.42, and the 200 with 2:09.47 She was challenged by Yoshiko Saito (JPN) who was in the lead for the first half race but finished second in 2:10.78. Buschschulte has 11 first places in 5 World Cups she has taken part in, with two more left. The main rival for backstroke category points Kelly Stefanyshyn (CAN) had 8 wins and has returned home to Canada.

The men's 200 butterfly was another routine victory for James Hickman (GBR) with 1:55.20, was up to his high standards. In second with a 2:00.79 Mickey Halika (ISR) and his second medal.

The women's 200 IM was a close battle between Yana Klochkova (UKR) and Joanne Malar (CAN). Klochkova won with a 2:11.39, thanks to her early lead on the fly leg with 29.18 to Malar's 29.46. Malar, never closed the gap finished in 2:12.67.

Jorg Hoffman (GER) won the 400 freestyle with 3:43.36. He was in in the lead throught the 16 lengths as Pieter van den Hoogenband (NED) closed the gap in the last 50 but was second in 3:44.31.

Two of the best European sprinters challenged for the 50 freestyle with Katrin Meissner (GER) with 25.17 edgind Sue Rolph (GBR) with 25.22. Shannon Hosack (USA) came in third with 25.49.

In the women's 800 freestyle Chen Hua (CHN) posted her third consecutive win in 8:30.17 with Kirsten Vlieghuis (NED) second in 8:32.15, and Ingrid Bourre (FRA) third with 8:34.43.

In the last race of the day, the men's 50 butterfly, Sabir Muhammad (USA) in 23.51 beat Milos Milosevic (CRO) with 23.98. Veteran Milosevic at 27, won the European Sprints last December with a world record of 23.30.