UPDATE: Matt Wilson won the men’s 200m breaststroke national title on Wednesday night, February 28.
Wilson claimed the title in a personal best time of 2:08.31, more than two seconds ahead of second-place getter Zac Stubblety-Cook.
FEBRUARY 28, 8AM: The Blue Mountains’ Commonwealth Games hopes will be resting on the shoulders of Springwood swimmer Matt Wilson.
He takes to the water on the Gold Coast this week for the Australian Swimming Trials, during which Commonwealth Games selection will be decided.
Held from February 28 to March 3, the 19-year-old will compete in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, and 50m freestyle events. The 200m breaststroke will be his best shot at making the Australian team.
“Hopefully if I can get a spot on the team and I put my race together on the day, I can also get on the podium at the Commonwealth Games which would be awesome, particularly in front of a home crowd,” Wilson said.
In January he won gold at the Victorian Open and NSW Open Championships in the 200m breaststroke.
“These were good times and swims for the stage of training I was in and for that time of year, and I was happy with them,” Wilson said.
In November he expanded his international racing experience, competing in three World Cups in Asia.
“We weren’t rested over there and we used the trip as another training block, so some of my times were slower than my best but I did manage to get personal bests in the 100 and 200 breast in China which was unexpected,” he said. “Racing with and against the best in the world is a fantastic learning experience.”
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