Seghers dedicates win to dad

By ISAAC LIRI
SAM Seghers won Team Papua New Guinea’s only Oceania class medal (bronze) in the men’s 50m freestyle last Friday during the final day of the pool events at the Oceania Swimming Championships in Port Moresby.
Seghers clocked a time of 24.07 to snatch bronze behind New Zealanders Daniel Caldwell (gold) and Carter Swift (silver).
The 23-year old was emotional after winning the bronze medal dedicating it to his late father Charles Edmund, who passed away last year.
“Getting a medal means a lot and I dedicate it to my late dad who passed away last year,” Seghers said. “I am happy to win a medal for him and for PNG and I want to thank the people for coming out to support us.
“My dad was my biggest supporter in all my competitions I took part in. “In my first Oceania championships in New Caledonia in 2010, he supported me by coming to watch me and in 2013 he was diagnosed with cancer.
“For four years he battled with cancer and last year he passed away and I missed him so much so I dedicate this medal to him.
“I am a Madang boy, I grew up there and I was born there at the Modilon General Hospital.
“My parents use to work at Bogia station and when I was small I lived there, so after the championships I’ll go to Madang and spend a couple of weeks with friends that I grew up with before I go back to Australia,” Seghers said.
“I’m happy to win this bronze medal as well because it motivates me and the other swimmers to prepare for the 2019 Pacific Games and hopefully I win some medals at the Pacific Games,” Seghers said.