Hero’s welcome in Pietermaritzburg for swimming champ, Matt Sates
Teenage swimming sensation, Matt Sates, was given a champion’s welcome at the Pietermaritzburg Airport on Sunday, November 7.
His family – Caity, brother, Tim, his great-grandmother, Moyna Askew and his grandparents, Chris and Brenda Strang – joined friends and members of the Seals.
Swimming Club to surprise him on his return to the city after he made a splash on the international
swimming stage.
Matt, who has been coached by Wayne Riddin for the past nine years, won the overall prize at the prestigious FINA World Cup, following the final leg of the competition in Kazan, Russia, at the weekend.
The 18-year-old n racked up 227 points over the four legs of the short course swimming series, held in Berlin, Budapest, Doha and Kazan, winning 13 gold medals, four silvers and one bronze. He also broke three world junior records.
The Pietermaritzburg swimmer was the only South African in action during the final leg of the short course series in Russia, claiming four medals on the closing weekend.
American two-time Olympic gold medallist, Tom Shields, and double Tokyo silver medallist, Arno Kamminga, of The Netherlands, finished second and third, respectively.
In Kazan, Matt took gold in the 400m freestyle, edging out world short course champion Danas Rapšys of Lithuania in 3:38.28. The two then shared the gold in the 200m freestyle, both finishing in a time of 1:41.73.
Meanwhile, it took a World Cup record of 1:50.66 in the 200m individual medley from Japan’s Daiya Seto to stave off the challenge from Matt, who finished with silver in 1:52.32.
He followed that up with bronze in the 100m individual medley in 51.96.
The race was won by five-time short course world champion Seto, in 51.29.
“The main goal coming in was to try and get top 20 to get a little bit of money, so coming first and winning it has been absolutely amazing,” said Matthew, who was awarded US$100 000 for winning the overall title.
“Thanks so much to FINA for putting this on. It’s changed my life, so a shout-out to them.
“It’s been a month of the most stress that I’ve been under, but there have also been the biggest highs that I’ve had, so I’m very thankful.”
In a post on Facebook, proud coach, Riddin, said: “What a journey! Well done Matt Sates for giving me this opportunity and experience – 13 gold medals, four silver medals and a bronze from 18 finals at 18 years old … three junior world records and two SA records, and the overall men’s winner trophy over the four legs of the FINA World Cup!”
The teenager will now have a bit of a rest before heading to the World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi in December.
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