Finland’s Olympic swimming medal hope, three-time medalist Matti Mattsson has gone through a merciless training camp for the Paris Olympics.
Pori swimmer Matti Mattsson was on Thursday watching the WC swimming at Helsinki’s Mäkelänrinte about a month before the Olympic Games, where he will go to defend his Tokyo 2021 bronze medal.
Mattsson clocked a time of 2:10.52 in the 200-meter breaststroke final at Mäkelänrinte, which was about three seconds better than the time of the morning’s race.
– All in all, a good bet. The morning was a bit congested, I couldn’t really get up to speed. I felt good in the evening, Mattsson commented to STT.
Mattson had won silver Aleksandr Ipatkov exactly 10 seconds faster.
– This was my general training for the Olympics, we’re going to Paris next.
Still aiming for the speed of his life
In the Tokyo final, Mattsson swam the current Finnish record of 2:07.13 in the 200-meter breaststroke. Coach Eetu Karvonen has wrested the hardest power out of Mattsson during the training period for the Olympics, so that the swimmer from Pori can still find the speed of his life.
– I think it is possible. As I’ve said many times, I still haven’t swum my best performance, Mattsson said.
There is only one month left until the Olympic flame is lit. Mattsson, along with coach Karvonen, emphasizes maintaining fitness at the end of his training.
– Let’s keep the momentum going and focus on what we’re doing. Don’t overanalyze what you have to do too much. We’ll probably still be swimming a bit too hard.
In February, Mattsson applied for the Olympic limit at the World Championships in Doha. Porilainen is currently the only Finnish swimmer who has reached an Olympic place.
The Summer Olympics will be contested from July 26-11. August.