FOR the last three years St Columba Anglican School’s Matthew Catania has been ever-so-consistent.
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He continued his impressive hammer-throwing performance last week at the NSW All-Schools tournament with another silver medal in Sydney.
It followed the same coloured medal theme that he has achieved with regularity.
While he finished his campaign eight metres short, he achieved the goal he set out to achieve 12 months ago.
“My preparation last year would have been a lot better because I was focused on athletics then,” he said.
“Now I’m more focused on my rowing.”
Catania admitted he didn’t think he would medal, but went to the NSW All-Schools warm-up event the week before.
“I threw 40 metres then and then threw 47 metres a week later,” he said.
The 47-metre goal was one he set one year ago.
“It is a heavier weight; this year it was five kilos, last year it was four,” the teenager said.
“Next year I will still most likely compete at the Australian junior championships and I will most likely compete again at NSW All-Schools.”
He made the decision to take his rowing more seriously and has so far made an impression with Australian coaches indicating they believe he has what it takes.
“The goal would be to make the Olympics – maybe Tokyo, but probably 2024 is a more realistic goal,” he said.
“This year I was going to go to the state rowing championships, but I would like to go to nationals in March next year.”