SNZ Events
Epic Swim
High Performance
SNZ Events
Epic Swim
High Performance
Iain McGregor
Matt Hutchins is a lot closer to his Olympic dream than he thought he would be.
But the US-based college student is also aware qualification may not go swimmingly.
Last week, Hutchins was fourth in the men's 400m freestyle final at the US national champs in San Antonio, Texas. His time of three minutes 48.70 seconds was just a 1.03s off the New Zealand record set by Matt Stanley in 2012.
Hutchins narrowly missed making the qualifying time for selection in the NZ team to contest last week's world champs in Kazan, Russia, when third at the NZ Open in April in 3:50.93, fractionally behind Stanley who qualified.
Yet Hutchins' time last week would have been good enough for 17th at the worlds, while an out-of-form Stanley swam 3:56.79 at Kazan to be ranked 47th.
"It was a pretty good swim," the University of Wisconsin student said.
"At the start of the summer, it was in the ball park of the times I had written down for where I really wanted to be at this time of year. Obviously at the start of summer I had hopes of being at the world champs - but I'll take it here."
While the top two swimmers from the US were at the world champs, Hutchins said the depth of competition still made for a high-class meet.
"If these guys had been swimming these times at worlds they would have been top eight," he said of the medallists.
Hutchins now knows he's capable of achieving an Olympic qualifying time at next year's NZ Open, which doubles as the sole trial for Rio 2106. But a clash of dates has left hin uncertain of his commitments.
Swimming NZ recently switched the dates of that meet from late April to March 28-April 1 - starting just two days after the completion of the men's NCAA (US college) championships.
That's left Hutchins uncertain of availability and how he's meant to be at his peak for the NZ Open.
"I'm still really undecided - I'm trying to get as much information out of Swimming New Zealand as we can; still trying to figure out a plan," he said.
"There's talk about letting us swim at other international meets prior to trials. But still fitting that around college stuff ... there's a lot of options."
The 20-year-old said his allegiance to his college in his second season there made matters tough.
"As much as the Olympics are important, you don't want to be around the team training and then not travelling and competing - it'll feel weird. That's one of the things that makes the decision a little harder.
"I feel a lot more comfortable being over here in the States - getting another full year of long-course training in, it's something I don't have back in Christchurch. Being in a 50-metre pool every day really helps my racing."
Hutchins' season runs from September to March - "we're competing all through the school year, travelling to other schools and racing, while conference and nationals are February to March".
He admitted Madison, Wisconsin, was a strange option for a swimmer with long freezing Midwest winters - "you don't realise how cold it is until you get here".
But the history major has some big Kiwi sporting footsteps to fill - Tall Blacks star Kirk Penney spent four years as a Badger, making the March Madness NCAA basketball semifinals and is still hugely regarded by UW fans.
He's hoping another college season will push him closer towards Rio after the agony of missing the world champs.
"To get so close to the time ... and I swam the exact time in the heats and the finals so that was a little bit disappointing," Hutchins said.
"Once I got back to the States I refocused and it was kind of a nice motivator.
"Going into an Olympic year, making the Olympics is always a goal. After the 400, it makes it very much a real possibility now."
- Stuff, Ian Anderson
