Three months ago Matthew Sates didn’t see himself as a top contender, but a recent stint of giant slaying has him eyeing world championship and Commonwealth Games medals in 2022.
The Pietermaritzburg swimmer, who turned 18 during the Tokyo Games, had a disappointing Olympics, finishing 14th in the 200m individual medley and 32nd in the 100m butterfly.
But when he competed in the four-leg World Cup series from early October, Sates turned into a world beater, bagging 13 wins in five events across freestyle and individual medley to take the overall male swimmer of the series.
He slew big names, like Australia’s multiple Olympic medallist Kyle Chalmers, and clocked world junior records in the 200m and 400m freestyle and the 200m IM. His 1 min 40.65 sec in the 200m freestyle ranks him the sixth-fastest of all time in the short- course pool.
“I had no medal ambitions ahead of the World Cup,” said Sates. “I really wanted to come in the top 20 — the top 20 get paid so I was hoping to scrape into the top 20. The idea of coming first [overall] didn’t even enter my mind.”
And now he’s dreaming of converting his success to the Olympic-sized pool, double the length of 25m short-course laps. “I want to live up to the expectation that people have got now from seeing the world junior records being broken. Medals? Oh yes, ja, definitely — at Commonwealth and at worlds.”
Sates’ greatest asset is his single-minded determination, where swimming is his biggest focus, with few interests beyond the sport. “I guess I don’t really have lots. When I’m out of the pool it’s focusing on extra recovery or the mental side.”
Mom Taryn, who quit her job this year to help her son achieve his dream of qualifying for the Olympics, describes him as more reserved than older brother Timothy, who is studying in the US on a scholarship, and younger sister Caitlyn.
“They’re all very good swimmers, but Matt is the more quiet, reserved one. Caity and Tim are more bubbly and outgoing.
“He [Mat] leads quite a lonely life, he’s a quiet boy. I suppose to some extent he’s missed out with his school friends because he’s been so dedicated to his swimming.
“If he’s not at the pool, he’s at home. He’s given up things, but his mind is incredibly strong. Some days if I don’t draw out the conversation I won’t know what’s happening.”
Taryn spotted his competitive streak at an early age. “He has had a competitive streak since he was a little boy. He went to a Grade R gala, and from that age I could see he enjoys winning. When he does something he wants to excel.”
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