He was one of the first ones to arrive this morning at the Duna Arena to train. He expects to keep that status on Saturday evening, when he will swim the men’s 200m IM in the second leg of the “FINA Champions Swim Series”, taking place in Budapest (HUN) on May 11-12. He is Jérémy Desplanches, from Switzerland, 2018 European champion in his pet event, and competing in the four-athlete final in Hungary with Chase Kalisz (USA), Wang Shun (CHN) and Philip Heintz (GER).
It is a comeback for Desplanches to the Duna Arena, after he competed in the iconic Magyar aquatic complex at the 2017 FINA World Championships. He was eighth at the time in the 200m IM.
“This return here brings me a lot of emotion, as it was the first time I reached a final at the Worlds. It was a memorable race for me, as my family was watching it from the stands. Now, there are still no spectators (smiles), but I am sure this weekend the Hungarian fans will create a great atmosphere, as it was the case two years ago!”
Photo credit: Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia
Whatever happens tomorrow in Budapest, Desplanches (24 years old) will not repeat his 2017 ranking in this race, as only four athletes are invited to each final.
“It’s very weird to arrive here and see only four starting blocks! There are only four swimmers, it’s not a lot, but they are the best! Being fourth would be already good, but if I can go up one or two positions would also be great… It may seem a bit empty now, but when the lights will be on, I am sure the atmosphere will be incredible”.
Asked about the concept of the “Champions Swim Series”, the Swiss star is clear:
“I am very excited to discover this new world, a new world for swimming. In terms of my personal results, it’s a question mark at this stage, as I did not challenge this kind of swimmers this year. I hope I can swim fast”.
Desplanches is entered with a time of 1:56.86, the third fastest of the final.
“The idea of the ‘Champions’ is a great one, but has one minor disadvantage: it’s only aimed to the best of the best. If the swimmer hasn’t good times or a good reputation, he will hardly make it. I really like the idea of finals only for four swimmers – few lanes, few swimmers to watch, very close races -, but we could create a kind of B-final in the morning, with four more slower athletes”.
Jérémy Desplanches and his coach training in the Duna Arena
The highlight of the 2019 season will be the 18th edition of the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, Korea. Until then, he will participate in Mare Nostrum events and then travel to Asia with one purpose, “be in the top-5 in the 200m IM”. If things go really well, “the medal can come, if not, I’ll reach at least the final”. After his European title last year, Desplanches knows that his opponents have a “greater respect” for him, and that his name “is not unknown”. In Switzerland, things haven’t changed much, but “the younger generation look at me with a bit more admiration, knowing that success at the highest level is always possible”.
Finally, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in about 15 months’ time. “Only 15 months? OK, it goes really quickly… After the Worlds, I’ll do a two-three week break and then I want to be ready physically and morally for Tokyo. Those are my plans”.
Stretching with Mehdy Metella (FRA), also invited for the Budapest leg, Jérémy Desplanches then plunges into the pool for his morning training session, getting ready for this new world in swimming.