After a traumatic near-drowning experience at six years old, Matthew Bedderson had developed a particular aversion to water. Now, after much hard work and steely determination, the 22-year-old Durbanite has jetted off to Ghana to represent South Africa in the prestigious African Junior and Senior Championships.
“My parents sent me for swimming lessons so that I could be water safe. I was petrified of water during my first months of swimming lessons and would not move past the shallow-end steps of a swimming pool. Fast-forward a year later and I absolutely fell in love with water and I could not get enough of swimming. My parents then moved me on to a competitive swimming club, the Seagulls Swimming Club, when I was 11 years old,” explained Bedderson. According to Bedderson, the tournament consists of all countries in Africa sending through their best junior (18 and under) and senior (19 and over) swimming teams to compete. “I could not believe it at first and it took me a few days to actually process that I would be representing my country for swimming. It’s something I have wanted to achieve for so long and when I got the news I was in so much shock but so happy because it just gives me validation that the long hours and sacrifices are paying off and that it is all worth it.”
The Chelsea Prep swimming coach boasts tremendously impressive accolades within his craft, making his first KZN swimming team for a level-two inter-provincial gala in his first year of competitive swimming. Bedderson had also qualified for the national swimming competition in both short-course and long-course swimming for the past four years. “This year was extra special because I was invited to compete at the South African Olympic trials in April 2021, the numbers were limited due to the pandemic and to be invited was really something special for me.” “What I love the most about swimming is that it is purely you against the clock. I have always been extremely competitive and hate to lose, so with swimming there’s no one else to rely on except the planning done by your coaches and I love that side of this sport,” shared Bedderson.
On the flip-side, the Bachelor of Social Science student also stated that one of the downsides is that the sport can get incredibly lonely. “It is mentally hard at times because it is essentially you against yourself and setting smaller goals as stepping stones in order to achieve your big goals; is a way that I stay both motivated and able to overcome these challenges that the sport throws at me. Having a great swimming coach and a great team to train with, helps a lot as well and makes things much easier.” Bedderson said that he still learning much about being a swimmer, stating that his coaching gives him an invaluable perspective of the small things his own coach reinforces. “My biggest inspiration is Cameron Van Der Burgh, he was one of South Africa’s greatest swimmers. He won the 2012 Olympic gold medal in my favourite event – the 100m breaststroke, and broke the world record. But what I admire about him is how determined, dominant, planned and professional he was as a swimmer. He inspired me in every way, not just the swimming aspect but also the way in which he carried himself outside of the pool,” said Bedderson. Bedderson is coached by the SA national head swimming coach, Graham Hill, and is due to arrive home on 17 October.
