The 17-year-old is a natural athlete who’s previously done well in swimming, running, high jump, long jump and soccer. He only took up speed climbing at the Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in Villawood two years ago.
“His experience with speed climbing really only spans about 12 months since he lost seven months to soccer training and five months over Covid in the last year,” Matt’s Dad Kim Kohen said.
“He was very nervous on Sunday since it was his first climbing competition but to come away with a medal is amazing and he is very thrilled.
“He had no expectation of winning and only entered the competition for the experience. The young man who won the event, Marley Farquharson, has been involved with climbing for many years so we knew he’d be the one to beat.”
Though he’s never been coached, Matt and his family are starting to believe he has what it takes to be very competitive in the future.
“He may have a crack at the NSW/ACT Open Lead and Speed titles which come up in June,” Kim said.
“The 2021 Olympics include the three climbing disciplines of speed, lead and bouldering but in the 2024 Olympics ‘speed’ will feature as its own discipline … and that would be right up Matt’s alley.”
