Swimmer Matti Mattsson has even been talked about as a medal hope before the Paris Olympics. It is based on mere speculation, writes Joel Sippola.
Joel Sippola sports reporter
Paris Olympics on channels 26.7.–11.8. Go to the competition website here.
Finland does not have any real medal favorites at the Paris Olympics. I mean, kind of like that Iivo Niskanen went to the Beijing Winter Olympics two years ago.
When there are no clear favorites for the medal, the names that have won a medal at some point will also be nominated. Now this kind of snobbery is related to Matti Mattsson. Porilainen achieved Olympic bronze in the 200-meter breaststroke three years ago.
Even in the media, Mattsson’s name comes up when talking about the most potential medal hopes of the Paris Games. Without any grounds.
Mattsson swam a shockingly hard record time of 2:07.13 in his medal swim. Shocking because the second best of Pori’s career is clearly weaker, 2.08.22.
Sniffing
Mattsson’s current competitive mood is a mystery, as he missed the European Championships in Belgrade in June. Mattsson’s swimming at the World Championships, which were held very early (in February), was promising based on the heat.
In the final, however, he finished sixth. The sharpest tip of the sport wasn’t even included.
It could be that Finland’s number one swimmer has fired up his coach Eetu Karvonen with the Olympic pool. However, when talking about the possibility of success, you have to remember realism.
After his swimming record in the Olympic final, Mattsson’s best time is 2:09.04 from two years ago. The difference to the record time is almost two seconds.
There is a very small probability that the 30-year-old Finn would suddenly break his own already wild record. Against this background, the basic level should be significantly harder.
Shocking level
In terms of medal chances, an even more essential factor is the mood of the competitors. The men’s 200-meter breaststroke is at an incredibly high level right now.
For the past two years, both Australian Zac Stubblety-Cook like the one at the center of China’s doping scandal Qin Haiyang have set a world record and broken the ghost limit of 2:05.48.
In addition to them, the third swimmer who clearly stands out is the French superstar Leon Marchand, who is fighting for up to four individual Olympic golds at his home games in Paris. Marchand’s hard record time (fades) alongside Stubblety-Cook and Qin, but the extremely talented Frenchman also has the seams for ME pace.
When, in addition to them, the world currently includes the USA by Matt Fallon and Japan Ippei Watanabe like other athletes capable of a speed of less than 2.07, Mattsson’s situation in terms of competing for medals is inconsolable.
Sievinen’s club
In Finland, there is too much focus on Olympic medals, even though the chances of losing, especially in the Summer Olympics, have weakened from race to race. The success of Mattsson’s trip to Paris is not determined by whether or not he gets a medal.
Jani Sievinen is the only Finnish competitive swimmer who has reached the Olympic final more than once. The Olympic silver medalist in the 200-meter individual medley was in the final in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
In Mattsson’s case, renewing the place in the final would go into the excellent category.
So don’t be disappointed when the Finnish medalist of the previous summer games is not with the Olympic medals this time.
On July 30, Matti Mattson swam in the heats of the 200-meter breaststroke.