Mathew Prince Mwase wants ‘to go as far my talent can take me.’
That is probably also the approach he takes to all his races. His effort is always noticeable and his ability to live up with the top seeds in his races has made him one of the swimmers to watch in the recent past.
Mathew, 17, for the uninitiated is the first of three sons of Uganda Aquatics (UAq) president Moses Mwase. All three boys hit the scene at almost the same time but the younger Jaden was probably more noticeable because of his diminutive figure.
But in the recent past, Mathew and Arthur, 16, are hitting the right codes in their swimming careers, not only under the watch of coach Joseph Kabogoza at Sailfish Swim Club but also for their nation.
At the UAq National Championships in July, Mathew was probably the dark horse in the 17 and Over age group taking up three bronze medals in the; 100m backstroke behind Tendo Kaumi and Joshua Kaganda, 100m freestyle behind Tendo and his brother Pendo, then in the 50m free behind Tendo and his namesake Mukalazi.
Another intriguing race from Mathew came at the UAq League Meet III at Rockwood Swimming Pool, Bweyogerere. In a bid to spice up the events of the day, Pendo, who had elected to skip this leg of the league, asked to race in the 100m freestyle to take on guest American swimmer Gatt Lachlan. As everyone concentrated on what Lachlan and Pendo were up to, Mathew focused on himself and led the race for 80m.
But Pendo turned up a gear in the final lap to win it – although the official winner was recorded as Mathew as the former was not officially registered.
Zone III performance
Mathew went on to represent Uganda at the 10th edition of the Africa Aquatics Zone III Swimming Championships held October 16-19 at Kasarani in Nairobi, Kenya.
Mathew bagged the 17 and Over boys’ 50m free bronze (25.28) in another ballistic race where under 50 microseconds separated the first five finishers.
He also finished 4th in the 100m back (1:06.92) and free (56.75), then 5th in 50m back (31.06). He also got four silver medals from the 15 and Over relays; first combining with Silverfin’s Ampaire Namanya and Isaiah Kuc, plus Gators’ Peterson Inhensiko in the 4x50m medley, then Kisawuzi, Kaumi, and Kirabo in the mixed 4x50m free. Mathew also worked with Kaumi, Jordan Munyikwa, and Malcolm Nahamya in the 4x100m free relay. Then Inhensiko substituted Munyikwa as the boys got second place in the 4x50m free relay.
‘I am doing well but maybe not so much in the individual races,’ Mathew said ahead of his 50m free, which he needed to do in the best way possible to get an individual medal. He duly delivered.
‘Just after we had been told to take our mark in the 50m back, the official in my lane told me I could not put my toes above the water. That is how I ended up having a bad start,’ he explained.
Mathew has always been self-critical. In fact, his eureka moment came from analyzing his ‘bad performance at the Zone III in Tanzania (2022)’. That was the third time he was swimming at the competition having made his debut in 2019 in Kasarani and also swum at the 2021 edition in Uganda.
‘Okay, the times were not as bad but I was disappointed in my performance and decided to lock in and be more intentional and focused in training,’ Mathew recalls.
Mathew also represented Uganda at the Africa Zone IV Championships in Zambia (2022). He continues to be a lead light for his brothers but also recognizes their strengths over his.
Pushing each other
‘Arthur is better at long distance events. I am better at sprinting. In between there, in the 200m and 400m freestyle, he is better.
‘Jaden is definitely the better breaststroker but he is a lot younger, so we beat him because of that. Backstroke is the weaker stroke for both of them but I am good at it. Then I am better at 50m fly and Arthur is better at the 100m.’
Arthur’s middle and long distance efforts earned him a call up to the team representing Uganda at the Africa Aquatics Junior and Senior Open Water Swimming Championships in Mombasa, Kenya last week.
The boys have earned all their stripes but the unavoidable question is how they feel playing a sport led by their father.
‘We were encouraged to take up swimming, nine or 10 years ago, by our parents because they did not want us to drown. But, I personally feel no pressure because when I started, I was so far down and did not know about the federation. I have worked my way all the way to where I am. I believe Jaden and Arthur feel the same way too,’ Mathew said.
The trio love music too while Mathew and Arthur could probably be found playing top level chess if they are not at a swimming competition.
‘Maybe I am ranked top 20 in Uganda and Arthur is possibly in the top 40. Jaden does not play as much. We love music and have done some competitions but right now, we are focused on getting better at it,’ Mathew, who is finishing high school next year, said.
‘We have passion for all the things we do. I love the practice and competition, and probably Arthur and Jaden do too.”
AT A GLANCE
Name: Mathew Prince Mwase
Brothers: Jaden (14), Arthur (17)
Sport: Swimming, chess
Club: Sailfish