The TRA Executive Head for Communications, Public Relations and Training, Warren Gates caught up with Matt Sates slogging it out at the High-Performance Centre at University of Pretoria.
Warren Gates
Hi Matt, I thought I’ll pop in checking if all your health requirements are in place for your upcoming travels and make some time for a coffee. Are you good for a catch up after training?
Matt Sates
Hi Warren, I am delighted to see you and thanks once again to the TRA Team for looking after my healthcare cover and everything that goes with it. I would love to catch up and will meet with you in the cafeteria.
Warren Gates
How is your overall training programme going? I see your coach is quite a bit of a hard task master.
Matt Sates
Yes, Warren. As you know, we have the Olympic Games this year and that journey started two years ago, and a big milestone was the Doha World Champs in Japan in 2024. I missed the Fukuoka Champs in 2023 which was a bit of a setback. We have the South African National Championships in Port Elizabeth next week and my aim is to use it to focus on improving my Qualifying times.
Warren Gates
Do you expect the competition to be tough at the Nationals next week. Who is likely to feature there?
Matt Sates
SA Nationals brings out the best in our swimmers as there are Qualifying spots for Olympics and Junior world championships at stake. There is also Commonwealth and the Junior Olympics on the horizon. Chad le Clos and the up-and-coming Jarden Eaton in Butterfly are of course serious competitors and events like the 400 free and 400 Individual Medley have at least five serious competitors. Nevertheless, that is the nature of swimming and a professional athlete like me must be in top shape all the time. Enough about me how are things at TRA and the team? Please let them know I appreciate what they mean to me.
Warren Gates
Thanks Matt – we’re all working hard to make sure we deliver the best gap cover products on the market. We will let them know and rest assured, the TRA Team is rooting for you like never before and we wish you well with your training programme. What is next for you after the SSA National Championships?
Matt Sates
Warren for now I am focussing on one milestone at a time and with the SA Nationals my mind is pretty much fixed on improved times. I am so thankful for all the support in the country and particular the TRA Team and I will be visiting the office soon.
Warren Gates
Great to hear Matt and thanks again for your time.