When Matt Wilson was a little boy he wrote his goals and dreams in a little blue book he’d hide inside his pillowcase.
One of those goals was to play first grade for the Cronulla Sharks, and another was to win a medal and stand on the podium at the Commonwealth Games.
While league may not have been his forte, swimming certainly is. On April 5, the 19-year-old from Springwood won his first Commonwealth Games medal; bronze in the 200m breaststroke.
“I’m absolutely stoked with winning a bronze in front of the huge home crowd. I would have liked to have gone a little faster but that’s how it is sometimes and I gave my all on the night,” Wilson told the Gazette.
Touching the wall in 2:08.64, he finished behind Scotland’s Ross Murdoch (2:08.32) and England’s James Wilby who won gold in 2:08.05.
“Racing against the world’s best like Adam Peaty, Ross Murdoch and James Wilby was an awesome experience and great to know I can push them as well as them pushing me,” Wilson said.
“This experience has certainly made me hungry to improve and work towards Tokyo 2020 and chase the dream of an Olympic medal.”
Wilson also competed in the finals of the 100m breaststroke on the Gold Coast on April 7 and finished seventh in 1:00:48. Englishman Adam Peaty took gold in 58:84, a Commonwealth Games record.
In the semi-final of the 100m breaststroke he touched the wall in under the minute, a goal he’s been working on for several years now.
Wilson’s last Commonwealth Games event was to be the 100m medley relay heats on Tuesday. He’ll have just one week’s rest before getting back into training.
