‘Prime’ Seidler readies for Paris

Namibia’s Olympian Phillip Seidler will not relocate abroad to prepare for the Paris Games but plans to make a splash on the global sport’s biggest stage.

The Swakopmund-born open water swimmer secured his place at the 2024 Olympic Games at a qualifier in Doha, Qatar, earlier this year and has since focused on preparing to improve on his previous best at the competition.

Speaking to Desert Radio earlier this week, Seidler, who is trained by his mother, Nadja Seidler, said his training is focused on speed endurance, with the aid of his father Helmuth Seidler and a female Russian expert.

“We are working super hard to make the upcoming Olympic Games a huge success and represent Namibia proudly,” the nation’s top open water swimmer said.

The 26-year-old would not be headed to a second Olympic Games had he not been persuaded to come out of retirement after capturing gold in the 2023 African Beach Games 5km open water swim.

What made the win more noteworthy was that he went into that competition without a formal training camp and was not aiming for the podium.

“My family, including the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC), held a serious meeting and decided to talk to me because they wanted to discuss the possibility of me coming out of retirement to try and qualify for the Olympic Games in Doha,” said Seidler, who is philosophical about his journey to Paris.

“In life, you won’t achieve much unless you are brave enough to take the chance. So, I was brave enough and took the chance, which resulted in me qualifying for the Olympic Games.”

Seidler said his objective in Paris is not about swimming a fast time but he is eyeing an improved finish.

“For Namibia, the biggest achievement is not always the medals but the participation. That, even athletes with limited resources can reach the pinnacle of sport, which is the Olympic Games,” said Seidler.

“Personally, a lot has changed in order to achieve this goal of mine. The last Olympic Games, I was just a kid and now I am actually a full grown man in my prime with a lot of strength, which means my body is at its best,” he said.

“A lot of adjustment has taken shape when looking at speed and I am already in great shape. Mentally, I am very strong.”