South Africa’s Matt Sates added two more gold medals to his already significant haul on the final night of racing at the first leg of the Fina Swimming World Cup in Berlin on Sunday.
It was a busy night for the 19-year-old star, who had already claimed two golds and a silver medal on the previous two nights of finals in the German capital.
First up was the 400m individual medley where Sates put in a powerful display to lead from start to finish, taking the title in a time of 4:02.95. Italian Alberto Razzetti secured the silver almost two seconds later in 4:04.74, with Hungarian Hubert Kos taking third spot in 4:06.44.
“It was definitely part of the strategy to take control of the race from the beginning and see how I felt,” said Sates who was back in the pool not long after for the 200m freestyle.
Up against Australia’s short course 100m world record holder Kyle Chalmers, Sates held his nerve – just like he did in Berlin a year ago. Chalmers went out under world record pace, but Sates made his move at the last turn, storming ahead in the final 25m to complete a tough double on the night.
Sates won in a time of 1:40.88, just .23 of a second off the SA and African record time he set in Berlin a year ago. Chalmers was second in 1:40.09 with American Kieran Smith third in 1:42.30.
“I always love swimming against Kyle. It’s one of my favourite things to do so I’m always just happy to be in the race with him no matter what the outcome,” said Sates afterwards.
Chalmers reckoned: “It felt good for the first 150 but I knew exactly what was going to happen – we did it last year here in Berlin. One day I’m going to get there and get my hand on the wall first, but I love racing against Matt. We spent the day together today and we’re going to have a good battle again next week for sure.”
Sates’ double gold means his overall title defence is well on course, with the teenager holding the overall men’s lead in the World Cup series with two legs left to race.
He earned US$12 000 for finishing the top swimmer of the Berlin meet.
MORE SILVERWARE FOR LE CLOS
Meanwhile, earlier in the evening the resurgent Chad le Clos added a silver medal to his two golds already won in Berlin.
Le Clos was thrilled with second place in the 50m butterfly – an event which is not his speciality. It was a tight finish with Trinidad and Tobago’s Dylan Carter taking the gold in 22.13 and Le Clos the silver in 22.21, with Italian Matteo Rivolta third in 22.38.
“I’m over the moon really,” said Le Clos who is finally enjoying some better form after struggling for the last few years. “I haven’t done that time in about five or six years. I’m racing the best in the world with Matteo and Dylan. Dylan has had a great meet so far so it’s going to be fun for the next two weeks,” he added referring to the next legs of the World Cup series in Toronto next weekend and then Indianapolis a week later.
At the end of three days of racing in Berlin, Sates and Le Clos ensured South Africa ended the weekend second on the overall medal table behind the USA with six golds and two silver medals.