Aiming for the Commonwealth Games
Having just returned from London and Glasgow attending Olympic qualifying events for Tokyo former Rydal Penrhos pupil Zach Speakman's foremost target at present is to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham .
These two Olympic trials saw Zach doing really well, competing with Olympic swimmers such as Duncan Scott, Adam Peaty and many other swimmers who had already been selected for Tokyo. These events as well as being qualifying events for Tokyo are also an important part of the journey for any swimmer seeking Commonwealth selection for Birmingham 2022.
Born in Kuwait Zach started swimming from a very early age. From the age of 6 he was already entering galas and traveling to Bahrain to take part in swimming competitions. A family move to Nairobi at the age of 8 saw a leap in Zach's swimming regime and practice became part of a daily routine from as early as 5.15am. At this stage Zach was already showing great promise and competed very regularly, holding school records for his Swimming at his school, Peponi House Preparatory school. and starting to build a collection of trophies and medals.
In swim terms Zach is a considered an all-rounder, but if pushed would say his particular strengths are the backstroke and the 200M.
Due to Covid regulations Zach was only able to return to the pool in April and to have been able to compete at such high-profile events and to achieve so many personal bests is an amazing achievement for Zach. He has managed to achieve this by maintaining a very disciplined daily gym programme throughout the lockdown, being very dedicated and determined and receiving excellent support from his coach Marc Spackman ( a former Olympic swimmer) throughout lockdown and a very intensive programme since his return to the pool.
Whilst at Rydal Penrhos Zach played all sports and not only loved them, but was particularly successful. To date he still holds school records for the Mile race and the high jump. He attended the Welsh finals for high jump, played hockey in a team which went on to win the Welsh schools competition. He also was one of a limited number of pupils who were selected to play Eton Fives at Eton itself.
Zach's present sporting regime has to cover swimming and strength work and Zach when not in school can normally be found in the pool or the gym. When at Rydal Penrhos Zach was a sports Scholar and was able to access seminars on nutrition, sports psychology as well as other supportive seminars which were designed to help sports scholars reach their goals. Indeed, the family were attracted to the school because of the sporting opportunities.
Zach has already achieved so much and now has his sights set on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Everyone at Rydal Penrhos is so proud of what he has achieved and wish him well in the future and what we are all sure will be a very successful career.