Bronzed Aussie Bradley Woodward ready to give all for Paris

Fresh from returning home from the World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, New South Wales Institute of Sport scholarship holder Bradley Woodward [pictured second from left] said he’s set his sights firmly on Paris after winning a bronze medal in the Men’s 100m Individual Medley relay alongside Kyle Chalmers, Zac Stubblety-Cook, and Matt Temple.

NSWIS: Congratulations on a tremendous performance in Fukuoka. Do you see that as the breakthrough moment of your career.

Bradley Woodward (BW): I think so. There was good, and some bad. Overall, I think my 100m [Backstroke] was good. I was a little bit disappointed with the times in the 200m . . . it was a little bit off what I did at the Trials. I thought I might have a bit more in me. The fact I got through to the final and finished sixth was probably more of the breakthrough for me rather than the time – if that makes sense? It was quite a big thing to get through the three rounds to make it to the final was quite a big thing.

NSWIS: How more mentally draining is it to perform at a competition like the World Championships when compared to the Trials or Nationals?

BW: Definitely. Chucking a few relays in there [on top of everything else], which we don’t do at Nationals, makes it a bit harder. By the last day you’re feeling it. For me, there was the Medley relay, and it was always going to be hard for us to medal. My best race came at the end because I knew there was a bit of pressure on our team having to get up for the race. But, certainly, by Day 8 you’re stinging a little bit.

NSWIS: Considering all of that, you must be proud to have bettered your PB [by point three of a second] as you led what turned out to be a bronze medal for Australia.

BW: I was certainly happy with that. It was so special to have been a part of that team, especially when you’re watching someone like Kyle [Chalmers] – who is an awesome relay swimmer and always lifts for the team. It was exciting to be at the front of it because I was able to watch the boys swim, and swim favourably well. It was an awesome feeling.

NSWIS: How did you feel watching it . . . did you have a sense Australia was going to medal?

BW: The big thing was Italy finishing ninth in the heat because they were the favourites going into the race. For us there were three big teams – China, America, and Italy – who were going to medal, but when Italy didn’t make it there was suddenly this opportunity to get bronze. We knew it was between us and France and watching the race unfold was nerve racking – but we got there in the end.

NSWIS: Kyle Chalmers is such a special athlete . . . has it hit you yet that you were in a team that contained someone who is being acknowledged as one of Australia’s greatest swimmers?

BW:   Kyle is always there when you need him, and you have this full faith that if he’s entering the relay, you’ll either finish with a medal or he’ll die trying. It’s an exciting thing when he jumps in the water; we were fourth – had a sniff of third – and while you didn’t want to celebrate too early, you just felt he was going to get the job done. We were in striking distance of France, and he swum over the top of them. Kyle won a [Olympic] gold medal at 18, and now, at 25, he’s still the best in the world. So, there is an aura about him that he’s going to be one of our greats; perhaps our greatest ever freestyler and we’ve certainly had quite a few of them. It is quite special to be around someone like that and to be in their team. He’s the ultimate racer . . .  if he needs more, he finds it . . . and it is crazy to watch someone who can race like that when they need to.

NSWIS: And you’ll forever be a part of the Australian team that topped the medal tally at the World Aquatic Championships . . .

BW: It’s massive. I understand the last time we did it was in Fukuoka in 2001. They reminded us a lot about that a lot coming into the champs. From the get-go, from Day One, it seemed we were destined to do it again. And when we walked away [on the opening night] with four gold medals and two world records there was a sense of ‘oh gee, the team is going to do it again.’ So, it was pretty cool to be part of the team.

NSWIS: So, what do you do leading up to the Paris Olympics? You must be on a high to have finished sixth in the final of the World Aquatic Championships

BW: I’m in a good position because I’m quite happy with the year I’ve had, but I’m still not satisfied with my performances – if that makes sense. I’m on an upwards trajectory, and I know I have more in the tank and more to give, especially in that 200m. I’m going into the next stage feeling hungry to do better and I’d love to be in a position to put myself on that plane in 2024. This team is so awesome, there’s a great spirit about it, they’re performing so well, and I want to be a part of it.

NSWIS: Well, there’ll be plenty of people at NSWIS cheering you on. What do you think you need to do between now and then?

BW: This is coming up to the eighth year I’ve been with [coach] Adam Kable and the program, and I think we have a pretty good system going.  More than anything it’s staying with what has done well for me over the last two years. I think from there we just have to build on a few things, fix a few small things. It’s an Olympic year so I’ll probably train harder as well [chuckles] and hope it all comes together.

NSWIS: Your medal made a lot of people at NSWIS very happy for you . . .

BW: That’s awesome, thanks so much. NSWIS has supported me since I was 16/17 and to have everyone watching and sending messages of support is pretty cool, and it’s greatly appreciated.

NSWIS: It was a big week for NSWIS in the pool because Matthew Galea performed so brilliantly for Australia A in America with four gold medals – 200m Freestyle; 200m Relay; 800m Freestyle and 1500m.

BW: That was ridiculous! Matthew’s breaking 15 minutes for the 1500m was a MASSIVE swim. We all knew it was in him, but to see him actually do it was awesome. The way he is swimming, and the trajectory he is on, it’s certainly possible [he could make Paris next year]

Footnote: In yet another huge boost for NSWIS’s Swimming Program, Tim Hodge opened his five race World Para Championships campaign in Manchester, England with gold and silver medals in his first two swims.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS