Sibling rivalry was nowhere in sight when William and Maddie Seymour scooped the gold medal in the pool for the fastest mixed duo at the National Secondary School Championships.
The Waimea College pair won the 2x50m freestyle mixed event, which was the icing on the cake for the duo who brought home a host of medals from the championships in Auckland recently.
For 18-year-old William, the championships resulted in personal best times across the board and six medals including four golds in 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Maddie, who had to return home early for a ballet competition, backstroked her way to a gold medal in the 50m event and a bronze medal in the 100m event.
She was also close to medals in the 50m butterfly, finishing fourth, and the 200m backstroke where she was fifth.
Competing together in the mixed event was the highlight of the competition for the pair who knew they had a chance at gold.
It was their first event at the competition and Maddi says they were excited.
“We were excited for it a month out,” Maddi says.
The siblings spend up to 11 hours training in the pool every week and William says the discipline and fitness is rewarding, especially when it pays off with success at competition.
Their next goal is 19 August when they return to Auckland to compete with the best swimmers from clubs around the country.
William’s goal is to still go faster.
“I did personal bests in everything at secondary school nationals, but I think I still have more to give.”
He attributes part of that to their coach, Glen Findlay, who has coached Olympians in the past, and William is very keen to join those ranks.
“Long term is the Olympics. Which is why I want to go to America.”
He already has several offers of swimming scholarships in the United States for next year, which will give him the opportunity to combine study with swim training and competition at the next level.
