Matsushita Tomoyuki on Leon Marchand: ‘I do think the gap is closing’
There’s no denying Japanese swimming is in a rebuilding phase.
Three-time Olympian Ikee Rikako is still the star of the team, but she failed to reach an individual final in Paris. Four-time medley world champion Seto Daiya is around but will be 31 in May.
Gone are the days when Japan used to give the powerhouses like the US, Australia and the People’s Republic of China a run for their money, with swimming being a fountain of the country’s medals at a Games.
Japan will be hoping that the World Aquatics Championships in July-August in Singapore mark the first steps of their rebirth. And without question, huge hopes are pinned on Matsushita’s slender 1.78m frame.
Matsushita is set to make his world championships debut after clocking personal bests in both medleys at last month’s Japanese trials. He took one-hundredth of a second off his time from his Olympic debut in Paris.
The Tochigi Prefecture native is one of eight teenagers who qualified for Singapore. He has been named the squad’s vice-captain alongside former breaststroke world record-holder Watanabe Ippei, which speaks volumes about the expectations placed on him.
The 400m IM has long been one of Japan’s signature races and a source of pride, producing world-class talent like Seto and Rio 2016 champion Hagino Kosuke.
Matsushita is far from a finished product – prior to Paris, he was pegged as one to watch out for at LA2028 – but already seems willing to take on the team leadership. At least some of it, anyway.
“Lots of teens on the team this time – some even younger than me,” Matsushita said at the National Training Centre in Tokyo where he was unveiled for the worlds.
“Of course everything was a first time for me in Paris. Everyone was older and they taught me a lot, piggybacked me through it all.
“But now I’m leading at times. Slowly but surely it’s changing. I’m trying to help create a feel where it’s easy for people to settle.
“Looking back on things now, I think a lot is different – the workload, my practice schedule. I’d say it’s easily twice as hard as it was compared to high school.
“Before, I felt like I was tagging along other swimmers during a race and would just turn it on at the end. Lately, I’ve been trying to take a different approach, trying to take the race to the competition.”
With Marchand only 22, Matsushita’s career, in all likelihood, will always be compared to the Frenchman whose best years are still ahead of him.
Their PBs in the 400m IM are six seconds apart. Marchand’s 4:02.50 almost seems untouchable.
A rematch with swimming’s biggest royalty will be on the cards in Singapore. Needless to say, it will be a challenge and then some for Matsushita – again.
But Matsushita feels it. Bit by bit, he feels like he is gaining on Marchand. Stay tuned towards LA.
“The closer I get to Marchand, the more I realise his greatness. That said, step by step, I do think the gap is closing,” Matsushita said.
AloJapan.com