Just three years ago, Matty Price’s bedroom looked very different.
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Three years ago, when he first joined the Parkes Swimming Club, the bookcase in his bedroom wasn’t shining like it does today.
The Year 6 Holy Family Primary School student has had a very successful year in swimming, his highlight being representing his town, the Western region and NSW at his first School Sport Australia Swimming Championships at the end of July in Hobart.
After returning home with swags of medals – in particular gold in the 50m Multi-Class backstroke – from both the NSW Catholic Primary School Sports Council Swimming Championships in March and the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) Swimming Championships in April, Matty can now add runner-up national champion to his impressive list of accolades.
The 11-year-old claimed silver at the national titles at the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre in the 100m backstroke in a new personal best time.
He also took home bronze medals in the 50m butterfly – also in a new PB time – and the medley relay.
“He did exceptionally well,” proud mum Sharon Scott said.
“He had a great time in Hobart and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of representing NSW.”
But Matty’s medal-winning performances haven’t ended there – not by a long shot.
At the end of October he swam in the NSW MC Swimming Championships at the Homebush Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
He received silver medals in the Under 12s 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke, and a bronze in the 100m freestyle.
And Sharon said he achieved personal best times in the 50m and 100m freestyle events.
While Matty’s quite the super fish, he’s beginning to show signs of an all-rounder athlete.
Earlier this month, he was representing Parkes and the Western region again at the NSW PSSA Athletics Championships.
At the Polding championships, which were held in Newcastle in August, Matty won gold in the 10-12 years AWD 200m dash, shot put, discus and long jump and a silver in the 100m dash.
Matty returned from the state titles with a bronze medal in discus, an event that is very quickly growing on the youngster.
Sharon said that was a nice surprise.
“We had no expectations whatsoever so to come away with a bronze was a bonus,” she said.
“He competed in five events and did a PB in just about everything.
“[His] shelf in his bookcase is filling very quickly.
“Both Chris and I are incredibly proud of his efforts.”
The next big event Matty has turned his focus to is the NSW Country Swimming Championships in Sydney in February.
He’s qualified for the 50m freestyle and is just one second away from the qualifying time in the 50m backstroke.
“It will be great if he can go for more than one event,” Sharon said.
“He’s working hard on that over the next eight weeks.”
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