A story goes that when Tuks swimmer Matthew Goller was young—really young—he hated it when water got on his face or in his ears.
Ironically, the next week, 16-year-old Goller will represent South Africa at the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. These days, he loves the water. When he swims, he feels calm. He also absolutely loves the feeling of weightlessness that comes with swimming.
The turning point came when he took part in a gala for the first time while in Grade One. Defying all expectations, Goller won the 50m freestyle. That victory sparked everything; from then on, he wanted nothing more than to race.
"Initially, I participated in all sorts of sports, but because I'm hyperactive, swimming was the one that worked for me. The training sessions are longer; if I don't train hard enough, I still have too much energy by the time I get home. That is not good."
To illustrate his point, Goller says he paces back and forth in the garden with his phone while conducting the interview.
"If it were up to me, I'd train seven days a week. One of my early coaches compromised with me: he told me to decide how many swimming sessions I wanted per week, and then I had to do one or two fewer. He made it clear that I couldn't train every single day."
If Goller had to choose between doing homework and swimming, he would choose swimming every time. But don't get him wrong.
'I want to be Matthew who swims, not Matthew the swimmer. Swimming should never be what defines me as a person."
At the Youth Olympic Games, Goller will compete in the 200m and 400m freestyle. He is the South African junior champion in both events. Earlier this year, at the African Junior Championships in Algeria, he won bronze in the 400m freestyle. At last year's Youth Games in Angola, he won the 200m and 400m freestyle, as well as the individual 400m individual medley.
'What I like about the 200m and 400m freestyle is the dogfight that goes along with them."
Goller's goal for the Youth Olympic Games will be to improve his personal best times.
'You have to be realistic, which is why I'm not committing myself to anything else. I want to beat my own marks at the Youth Games—that means faster times."
Music is Goller's other great passion. He can play the keyboard, guitar, and ukulele.
"I have quite a wide spectrum of music I can play - older classics as well as more modern music. I don't have a specific genre."
Goller's mention of older music certainly piques one's curiosity. So does he know the music of Pink Floyd and The Doors? He surprises with his answer.
"Yes, I know their music. I also like Peter Sarstedt, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and John Denver."