He is just eleven years old but Jerome Matsiko has already bagged 43 medals in swimming.

Matsiko, who is a member of Ozprey Swim Club Uganda, has mastered the art of swimming so much that he consistently gets chosen to represent Uganda in international swimming competitions. He is now slated to represent Uganda at the England South East Regional Championships in April this year.

Matsiko, a pupil of Galaxy International School Uganda envisions himself representing Uganda in the Olympics five years from now.

Uganda’s 11-year-old Jerome Matsiko has been recognized as one the fastest swimmers of his age category in the UK by Swim England.

The year 7 pupil at Galaxy International School Uganda has so far bagged a record 43 medals: 34 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze, as well as one trophy. All this in just three years!

Matsiko began his swimming journey when he was eight years old after the James International School Swimming gala accepted his application to participate in the gala.

While representing Ozprey Swim Club of Galaxy International School in the UK Bicester Blue Fin Swim Club, Matsiko took part in six individual events, including 100m, 50m freestyle, and 100m breaststroke. He hit the club record of 50m freestyle by 1.5 seconds covered at 00:29.73.

The youngster also participated in the 200m Individual Medley (IM), and 50m butterfly, where he won gold, bronze, and silver respectively, and came 6th in the 50m backstroke.

Matsiko is a young accomplished and professional swimmer who is also up to date with his studies despite his busy swimming schedule. However, balancing school and swimming has not been easy. He is happy that swimming as a career has exposed him to several scholarship and tournament opportunities.

Matsiko’s parents are supportive and help push his talents as far as they can take him while also ensuring that he remains in school to acquire skills that will come in handy in the future.

Matsiko’s vision five years from now is to swim in the Olympics and win medals. Excelling in sports is also a new way of getting a child into a good school or university or even acquiring a sports scholarship.

According to a 2017 report by Swim England’s Swimming and Health Commission, regular swimmers have a 28% lower risk of early death and a 41% lower risk of death resulting from heart disease and stroke.

Mary Prima Awor