SA’s Sates wraps up World Cup series triple crown

Matt Sates could not defend his overall Fina Swimming World Cup title but did walk away from the final leg in Indianapolis with the triple crown in the 400m individual medley on Saturday night.

The 19-year-old South African had dominated the event in each of the previous two legs of the World Cup, in Berlin and Toronto, and did the same in the USA.

He went out fast to build up a massive lead in the butterfly leg, eventually leading from start to finish to take the title in 4:04.12.

Because it was a timed final, Canadian Finlay Knox’s time from an earlier race saw him finishing second in 4:07.09 with Japan’s Yuki Ikari third in 4:07.13.

Three and counting!
???? Matt Sates claimed 3rd success in the 400 IM Bonus prize money???? 10'000#swimming #SWC2022 pic.twitter.com/v1JwgQwL9w

— FINA (@fina1908) November 5, 2022

“I’m really tired,” admitted Sates, who scratched from the 200m freestyle to focus on this race. “The stops have been really brutal, especially this one with all the racing but it was the last 400 IM and I wanted to get the crown so I just gave it my all. I’m pretty dead now so I’ll take a few weeks to recover and get ready for worlds,” added Sates whose next target will be next month’s World Short Course Championships in Melbourne.

By securing the triple crown, Sates earned himself a bonus cheque for US$10 000.

Later in the evening, Chad le Clos added to his two golds from the Indianapolis meet with silver in the 50m butterfly.

Swimming in lane 1, the 30-year-old couldn’t deny Trinidad and Tobago’s Dylan Carter the triple crown but was thrilled with second place in an event which isn’t his specialty. Carter claimed the win in 21.99 with Le Clos second in 22.27 and Germany’s Marius Kusch third in 22.46.

With the win, Carter secured an incredible third triple crown – adding to the 50m freestyle and backstroke – and the overall men’s World Cup title that Sates won last year.

Speaking after the 50m butterfly, Carter reckoned: “It was a goal but I can’t say I was expecting it. I had a really good meet run so I’m very proud of that.”

The other South African in action on Saturday night was Ruard van Renen, who did exceptionally well to reach the final of the 100m backstroke. He finished seventh in 52.06 in a race in which American Shaine Casas claimed the triple crown in 49.40, with Poland’s Kasper Stokowski second in 49.63 and American Ryan Murphy third in 49.67.

The meet was highlighted by another world record from American Katie Ledecky. Fresh from her record-breaking performance in Toronto a week earlier, Ledecky powered to victory in the 800m freestyle in a new mark of 7.57.42. Canada’s Summer McIntosh was almost 10 seconds back in 8:07.12 with American Leah Smith third in 8:12.01.

“I think I was putting a lot of pressure on myself after last week so to have all these fans here cheering me on meant a lot… it’s always fun to swim fast in Indy,” said Ledecky afterwards.

While Carter took the overall men’s title with 176.2 points, it was Beata Nelson who claimed the women’s World Cup title with 173.7 points – both receiving hefty winners’ cheques of US$100 000.

A rejuvenated Le Clos finished third overall with 166.3 points while Sates was fifth on 154.1.