Matthew competes against nation's best

A PASSION for swimming with a competitive edge has seen a local teenager placed in the top 100 at the Australian age championships recently held at the Gold Coast. Beechworth's Matthew Mace competed against the best swimmers in his age group from around the nation to gain a qualifying time in the boy's 14–year–old 50 metre freestyle held on Easter Monday. "It's a pretty tough and tight competition with around two or three seconds separating the first and last in the race," he said. "It was extremely exciting to get to this level in three years, and going to the Gold Coast to be in the championships has been a great experience." Matthew also scooped a gold medal winning first place in the Victorian all country junior 14–year–old 50 metre freestyle held at the Melbourne sports and Aquatic Centre in March. The 14–year–old said his keen swimming interest sparked when he started Year 7 at Wangaratta Cathedral College where he entered school swimming competitions. With a classmate in the swimming club Wangaratta Stingrays, the young swimmer joined too where he continues to train. "I became really competitive and started training hard with my coach Gary Bowman," Matthew said. Matthew said he trained around four times a week for roughly an hour and a half with days varied with either a 6am morning or an afternoon start after school. Matthew hopes to compete in more competitions and be able to get higher places. "I did well in freestyle but would also like to balance it out with three other stokes – butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke," he said. "At the nationals I only got into one stroke, but I'd love to be able to do all four." Matthew said he aims to get to the Nationals again next year as a more rounded swimmer with all four stokes. His mum Michelle said Matthew has always had an affinity with water. "It's his happy place," she said. Excited coach Gary Bowman said Matthew had been fast enough to get into the national championships where he raced against competitors who trained double the time at around eight times a week. "We've discovered he has some serious talent," he said. Gary said Matthew has the dedication and passion to pursue his swimming ambitions. "We know he has potential, and have tapped into his swimming capacity and will be training Matthew for next year's nationals with a plan."

Matthew competes against nation's best

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