Matheus Angula, the Namibian swimmer with a disability also known as ‘Spiderman’, will this coming weekend compete in the 2022 South African National Aquatic Championships set for Port Elizabeth.

Angula is scheduled to compete in the 100 metre (m) freestyle on Sunday, at the championships which are underway at the Newton Park Swimming Pool in Gqeberha since 06 April.

It ends on 11 April 2022.

In an interview with Nampa on Wednesday, his coach Sonia Lindemeier said the athlete is in great shape and eager to compete in the championships.

“Angula is anxious at the moment. He has been putting in good times at training and I am positive and keeping my fingers crossed that he will do his best to swim under one minute, 52 seconds in the 100m freestyle,” she said.

Lindemeier said at training, the swimmer has been doing well and she hopes he will time his pace well against his competitors.

“Our focus at the moment is the 100m freestyle because in June we are planning on travelling to Portugal to compete in the world swimming championships as this will form part of his pathway towards the 2024 Paris, Paralympic Games,” she added.

Lindemeier further expressed optimism that Angula will make the country proud during the championships noting that: “He is mentally strong, on four occasions he swam eight seconds faster than his 100m freestyle record. I am confident that come competition day, he will do it again.”

Born without legs, Angula competed in his first swimming competition in March 2016 and has a personal best of one minute and 52 seconds in the 100m freestyle. He is currently ranked number one in Africa in the S6 category.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency