Matt Sates Taking Slight Taper for World Champs, All in for Comm Games

2022 MARE NOSTRUM TOUR

Reported by Loretta Race.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

  • GOLD – Matt Sates (RSA), 1:58.31
  • SILVER – Jeremy Desplanches (SUI), 2:00.30
  • BRONZE – Alberto Razzetti (ITA), 2:00.41

With just one swimmer nabbing a time under 2:00 in this men’s 200m IM final, the results were a little on the lackluster side.

South African Matt Sateswho already did major damage on day 1 here by beating Olympic champion Dean in the 200m free, got it done for gold tonight in 1:58.31. That’s off the 1:57.43 he produced just days ago in Monaco, but the man also raced to a huge PB in the 400m IM in last night’s session for a tough 2 free/4IM double.

Swiss Olympic medalist Jeremy Desplanches went through the motions for 2:00.30, good enough for silver, while Italy’s national record holder Alberto Razzetti was only .11 behind in 2:00.41.

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Mark
2 years ago

It’s all about the Comm Games baby!!!!!

Irish Ringer
Reply to  Mark
2 years ago

The what?

STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
2 years ago

It makes sense. The WC’s are 4/5 weeks before the CG’s so it’s easier to do a mini taper for the former and a full taper for the latter. The Brits have been tight-lipped about which event will be their main focus but you can bet your bottom dollar they will prioritise the CG’s. Does anyone seriously believe they will compete at less than their absolute best and risk humiliation by Australia in front of their own fans?

Swimswamswum
2 years ago

Didn’t Bobo Gigi claim no one cares about Commonwealth Games?

Chas
2 years ago

lol world champs just another senior meet

50free
2 years ago

I really don’t understand prioritizing comm. How is less competition ever better?

olivy
Reply to  50free
2 years ago

With so many star focusing more on Commonwealth Games, is it really less competitive?

B1Guy!
Reply to  50free
2 years ago

Lotta swimmers putting Comms as their focus meet because there’s more $$$ in it for them!

CY~
Reply to  50free
2 years ago

because non-swimming people have no idea what “FINA world championships” is, but will remember the athlete if they won a medal from Commonwealth Games (and money)

50free
Reply to  CY~
2 years ago

This only answer that makes sense. Still pretty lame tho dodging so many other top swimmers.

Joel
Reply to  50free
2 years ago

It’s their career. They can choose whatever priorities they want, especially if it will provide an income for them. They still have to eat, pay rent, mortgages, bills etc

ldn
Reply to  50free
2 years ago

1 To those fans (devoted or casual) or to the swimmers (superstars or otherwise), who care about the CG, they matter a lot. As an example, a cricket series of matches between England (not UK) and Australia is one the top covered events in both markets. The Commonwealth Games are a chance to show off among your Commonwealth peers, with different nations or continents leading the charge in different sports
2 This was supposed be European champs, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games year…so, the Worlds 2022 well, I’m sure we’ll enjoy them, but had FINA scrapped the meet I’d have been ok with that

Stephen
Reply to  50free
2 years ago

When you add Peaty, Titmus, McKeon and Chalmers. You’re adding 8 Tokyo Olympic Gold medals.
WC purely a warm up for some.

Swimmer
Reply to  50free
2 years ago

Com games are really big in the commonwealth countries outside the commonwealth just don’t understand that. The games are like the olympics but for the commonwealth nations

John26
2 years ago

I still don’t get it- in 2014 and 2018, swimmers from commonwealth countries say they prioritize the games over panpacs and the European champs, but at least anecdotally the times do not seem to be faster.

In both the 2014 and 1018 commonwealth games, the only WR to go was the women’s 4x100free relay, and as I scan the results, plenty of Australians go faster at the pan pacs the same year. Which means the last time an individual WR was broken at CG was at least 2006. In most cases I can remember a faster time by a commonwealth athlete in the WC the previous year. So is all the talk about focus on CG just for show?… Read more »

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  John26
2 years ago

Why are you focusing on times? They enjoy that event more, as a mini Olympics. I don’t see why that is so difficult to understand. It is a spectrum, not a swim meet. Maybe it’s easier for me to grasp because I’ve been in Commonwealth nations several during the competition and seen how much attention it garners. The 1994 version really opened my eyes to the significance, as I drove through Canada late that summer.

John26
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
2 years ago

… I’m also from a commonwealth country. I didn’t mean any disrespect. Was just curious about the data on it.

Troyy
2 years ago

Another one prioritising Comm Games. 🤣

Dee
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

Such a shame comms struggle with host cities, because athletes always love the event. A mini Olympics between countries who love nothing more than getting one over on eachother.

Verram
Reply to  Dee
2 years ago

I think the problem is that Comm games has become too big to manage and to host .. similar problem with Olympics ..

Dee
2 years ago

It’ll get people talking, but I think this is a good call for a young swimmer looking to establish himself. Commonwealth Gold = Immediate household name in South Africa.

Still, interesting that it’s only the Brits who are not openly prioritising Commonwealths over Worlds, despite it being a home Games that will command far more public attention and engagement. Here’s hoping it doesn’t come and bite us on the arse!

Last edited 2 years ago by Dee
Troyy
Reply to  Dee
2 years ago

Peaty said he’s focusing on Comm Games before the injury.

Dee
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

Yeah, I suspect most of the Brits will ultimately prioritise Commonwealths, but British Swimming are still holding the all in on both line. Preselections allowed most of the names to go to champs without a full taper, so they should really be fine with a double summer taper for Worlds/Commonwealths, then see what’s left for Europeans.

Scuncan Dott
Reply to  Dee
2 years ago

Bit random but any idea why Dunks didn’t swim at the Glasgow swim meet day 1 heats today? He was down for the 200IM/100 Fly double but no showed both, possible injury?

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