Uplands’ star in world championships

Matthew made his home nation, Botswana, his school, Uplands College, and his family and friends proud at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), in Windsor, Canada, last week.

He won his heats in the 50-metre butterfly and 100-metre freestyle events and placed second in his 100-metre butterfly and 50-metre freestyle heats.
Lowvelder caught up with Matthew while he was waiting to fly to Angola for the u/20 African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Games, where teams from all over the continent compete in a number of sporting codes including boxing, athletics, tennis, judo and swimming.

Matthew said he has been swimming ever since he could remember.

I have swum my whole life seeing as my mother is a coach of the sport and growing up in Botswana where it is so hot, the best thing to do is swim,” he said.

“I would really like to see myself at the Olympics one day and eventually be the best in the world if possible. Swimming for a college in the (United) States is a goal of mine and I am working as hard as I can to achieve it.”

Matthew qualified for the South African Youth Nationals in 2016.

He has swum for Botswana in Mozambique, Zambia, Egypt and will add Angola to that list this month. He won a bronze medal in Egypt at the Africa Junior Championships in the 50-metre butterfly event. In 2014, Botswana Swimming sent him to Doha for the first youth camp, held concurrently with the 2014 FINA world championships.

“Going to Doha was a great experience but it was really cool to be competing in the world champs this time,” Matthew said.

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When asked who inspires him to get into the pool and train every day, Matthew said it would have to be his best friend.

Two years ago, my best friend, Robert Zeelie, was in a car accident at 17. He is now a quadriplegic but he was always so strong. He motivates me every day to do the best I can.”

Mother, Val, said she and her husband, Lloyd are extremely proud of their son.

“He has been very focused on his training for these events and we are impressed with his commitment, dedication, maturity and perseverance. Actually we are quietly bursting with pride. We are also hugely grateful to Botswana Swimming which have encouraged Matthew and given him such opportunities to challenge and encourage him,” she said.

“I have coached swimming for many years as a school coach and then as a club coach. Coaching your own child is difficult, though. Matthew has played and enjoyed all sports but he keeps coming back to swimming. He has gone through times when he has wanted to give up swimming and we have tried to be supportive and not pushy. It has had to come from him.”

Val added that the family is deeply grateful to Sam Howard at Uplands Uniswim who has had a big influence in Matthew’s swimming and in his life in general.

“Sam has been there for him when things have been tough. We are also thankful to Mpumalanga Swimming who has offered Matthew many great opportunities,” she said.

“We sent Matthew to Uplands College as we saw it as a school that has a real family feeling to it. Being a distance boarder, we needed to know that the school would be very caring and that Matthew would be given opportunity to grow and develop as an individual in all fields. The staff of the school have been very supportive of him and we appreciate everything they have done for him.”

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