Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Matthew Meyer Men 400m LC freestyle during day 1 of the SA National Aquatic Championships 2016 at Kings Park Aquatic Centre on April 10, 2016 in Durban, South Africa. (Picture: STEVE HAGG/GALLO IMAGES)
VETERAN swimming coach Alisdair Hatfield brings two athletes on the opposite ends of the spectrum to the Olympics.
On the one hand he has Chad Ho, an open water swimmer who, although only 26 years old, swam his first Olympics eight years ago.
Then there is Matthew Meyer, who has just turned 18 and is wet behind the ears as he goes off in the 1,500m event.
Hatfield, who has been coaching for 49 years, is brutal with his assessment of the young swimmer.
"Matthew’s come here to learn … in four years’ time, I’m confident of a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. While here in Rio, he must just soak it all up and get as close to the final as he can.
"This is the strongest group of swimmers for his event in more than 10 years and for him to get the number one prize will be to go under sub-15 minutes, which will be what is needed to at least make the final."
Meyer, a Grade 12 pupil at Clifton College in Durban, says he knows what he is here for.
"This is all to get more experience and is part of my swimming path."
He admits to being gob-smacked at the whole Athletes’ Village experience.
"The size of the dining hall blew me away," he says, before adding: "I’ve been eating quite a lot but it’s all healthy stuff. Racewise, my main goal is to go sub-15 here, and even if that means being 10th fastest, I’d still be very happy. To make the final would be just unbelievable."
At nationals in Durban where he qualified, Meyer swam the distance in 15 min 09 sec. His event will be contested on August 12 and 13.
Fellow KwaZulu-Natal athlete Ho is quietly confident, as is Hatfield. "If things go right on the day he’s going to be very close to a medal. Everything’s going to plan at the moment. He’s swum here twice already, most recently in December, so he knows the conditions," said the coach.
Hatfield has coached Ho since 2007 and the young Meyer since 2005.
As for Ho himself, he is looking relaxed after booking his spot in the Olympic qualifier in Setúbal, Portugal, last month.
After a 5km training swim on Tuesday, he said: "I had a bit of a setback last week when I picked up some urticaria (an allergic skin reaction), so I didn’t swim for three days, and then missed another day travelling here. But we’ve just readjusted things and by the end of the week we should start tapering."
His 10km event will be raced on August 16.
"Compared to Portugal, I’m in way better shape. My times are all quicker and I’m feeling stronger, so it’s been a great build-up," Ho said.
He agrees that at this level of open water swimming, it is a lottery on the day.
"Any one of the 25 swimmers can win here. But I’m definitely pushing for a medal and am certainly not here to make up the numbers."
Ho, who ended ninth at the Beijing Olympics, says he is a changed man.
"It’s just that I’ve gained so much more experience since then. Missing out on London four years ago devastated me but I’m just so grateful to be here now. I’ve stayed determined and motivated all along," Ho said.
Has he got another Olympic Games in him?
" I’d like to think so. I’m 26 now and the guys seem to peak in the late 20s and early 30s. I’ll be 30 in Tokyo, so let’s see how it goes."
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Meyer and Ho aim to make waves in Rio
VETERAN swimming coach Alisdair Hatfield brings two athletes on the opposite ends of the spectrum to the Olympics.
On the one hand he has Chad Ho, an open water swimmer who, although only 26 years old, swam his first Olympics eight years ago.
Then there is Matthew Meyer, who has just turned 18 and is wet behind the ears as he goes off in the 1,500m event.
Hatfield, who has been coaching for 49 years, is brutal with his assessment of the young swimmer.
"Matthew’s come here to learn … in four years’ time, I’m confident of a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. While here in Rio, he must just soak it all up and get as close to the final as he can.
"This is the strongest group of swimmers for his event in more than 10 years and for him to get the number one prize will be to go under sub-15 minutes, which will be what is needed to at least make the final."
Meyer, a Grade 12 pupil at Clifton College in Durban, says he knows what he is here for.
"This is all to get more experience and is part of my swimming path."
He admits to being gob-smacked at the whole Athletes’ Village experience.
"The size of the dining hall blew me away," he says, before adding: "I’ve been eating quite a lot but it’s all healthy stuff. Racewise, my main goal is to go sub-15 here, and even if that means being 10th fastest, I’d still be very happy. To make the final would be just unbelievable."
At nationals in Durban where he qualified, Meyer swam the distance in 15 min 09 sec. His event will be contested on August 12 and 13.
Fellow KwaZulu-Natal athlete Ho is quietly confident, as is Hatfield. "If things go right on the day he’s going to be very close to a medal. Everything’s going to plan at the moment. He’s swum here twice already, most recently in December, so he knows the conditions," said the coach.
Hatfield has coached Ho since 2007 and the young Meyer since 2005.
As for Ho himself, he is looking relaxed after booking his spot in the Olympic qualifier in Setúbal, Portugal, last month.
After a 5km training swim on Tuesday, he said: "I had a bit of a setback last week when I picked up some urticaria (an allergic skin reaction), so I didn’t swim for three days, and then missed another day travelling here. But we’ve just readjusted things and by the end of the week we should start tapering."
His 10km event will be raced on August 16.
"Compared to Portugal, I’m in way better shape. My times are all quicker and I’m feeling stronger, so it’s been a great build-up," Ho said.
He agrees that at this level of open water swimming, it is a lottery on the day.
"Any one of the 25 swimmers can win here. But I’m definitely pushing for a medal and am certainly not here to make up the numbers."
Ho, who ended ninth at the Beijing Olympics, says he is a changed man.
"It’s just that I’ve gained so much more experience since then. Missing out on London four years ago devastated me but I’m just so grateful to be here now. I’ve stayed determined and motivated all along," Ho said.
Has he got another Olympic Games in him?
" I’d like to think so. I’m 26 now and the guys seem to peak in the late 20s and early 30s. I’ll be 30 in Tokyo, so let’s see how it goes."
Sascoc
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.