Torwai Sethsothorn

Torwai Sethsothorn (Thai: ต่อวัย เสฏฐโสธร; born February 14, 1982 in Bangkok) is a Thai former swimmer, who specialized in long-distance freestyle but also competed in backstroke and individual medley.[1] He is a single-time Olympian (2000), and a multiple-time SEA Games gold medalist. Sethsothorn is also the brother of 1998 Asian Games champion Torlarp Sethsothorn.

Torwai Sethsothorn
Personal information
Full nameTorwai Sethsothorn
National team Thailand
Born (1982-02-14) 14 February 1982
Bangkok, Thailand
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight69 kg (152 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, backstroke, medley
ClubMission Viejo Nadadores (U.S.)
CoachTerry Stoddard (U.S.)
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing Thailand
Southeast Asian Games
2001 Kuala Lumpur 400 m freestyle
2001 Kuala Lumpur 1500 m freestyle
2001 Kuala Lumpur 400 m medley

Before his Olympic debut, Sethsothorn left his native country Thailand for a two-year residency in the United States. He lived with his uncle in Cypress, California, and later studied at the Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, California. He also trained, along with two other swimmers Juan Veloz of Mexico and Carlo Piccio of the Philippines, for Davie Nadadores Club under head coach Terry Stoddard.[2] While swimming for his respective club, Sethsothorn had earned numerous high school titles including his first triumph from the Mission Viejo Invitational in 2000.[3]

Sethsothorn competed in four individual events, as an 18-year-old, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He posted a FINA A-standard of 4:22.61 (400 m individual medley) from the U.S. National Championships in Federal Way, Washington.[4][5] In the 400 m freestyle, held on the first day of the Games, Sethsothorn posted a lifetime best of 3:56.68 to lead the third heat, finishing twenty-fourth from the prelims.[6][7] The following day, in the 400 m individual medley, Sethsothorn placed thirty-second in a time of 4:28.42, almost six seconds off his entry time.[7][8] Three days later, in the 200 m backstroke, Sethsothorn placed thirty-fifth on the morning prelims. Swimming in heat two, he picked up a fourth spot by one hundredth of a second (0.01) behind Argentina's Eduardo Germán Otero in 2:05.52.[9] In his final event, 1500 m freestyle, Sethsothorn challenged seven other swimmers in heat three, including top favorites Ricardo Monasterio of Venezuela and Spyridon Gianniotis of Greece. He raced to fourth place and twenty-eighth overall by almost ten seconds behind Gianniotis in 15:39.60.[10]

At the 2001 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sethsothorn won a total of three gold medals each in the 400 m individual medley (4:29.43), 400 m freestyle (3:58.18), and 1500 m freestyle (15:49.72).[11][12][13]

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Torwai Sethsothorn". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  2. Shaikin, Bill (11 January 2000). "'Mission Viejo's Quiet Olympians". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  3. Dermody, Tim (16 April 2000). "Sethsothorn Wins Individual Title". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  4. "Swimming – Men's 400m Individual Medley Startlist (Heat 6)" (PDF). Sydney 2000. Omega Timing. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  5. Robb, Sharon (31 March 2000). "Wilkens Wins 400 Im, Misses World Record". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  6. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 400m Freestyle Heat 3" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 133. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  7. Newberry, Paul (16 September 2000). "Thompson anchors U.S. relay win; Thorpe wins 400 free". Canoe.ca. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  8. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 400m Individual Medley Heat 6" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 316. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  9. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 200m Backstroke Heat 2" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 283. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  10. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 1500m Freestyle Heat 3" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 147. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  11. "Yi Ting ends Malaysia's 12-year drought". Utusan Malaysia. 12 September 2001. Archived from the original on 8 May 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  12. "Keng Liat set to deliver first gold for Malaysia in swimming". Utusan Malaysia. 9 September 2001. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  13. "Indonesia, Thailand in the medals". China Post. 12 September 2001. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
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