Dual Olympian Matt Temple wants to keep playing Aussie rules alongside his swimming despite injuring his ankle on the footy field after Paris

Many Paris Olympians might have indulged in a spot of travel after the Games, but Aussie swimmer Matt Temple had one major wish back home – to get back on the footy field. Injury hasn’t stopped him wanting to pull on the footy boots again.

While many of Australia’s Olympians jetted off on travel adventures or put their feet up for a well-earned rest after the Paris Games, swimmer Matt Temple had more sport on his mind.

The Australian butterflyer swapped his goggles for a pair of footy boots to fulfil his wish of another hitout on the turf, suiting up for the Lincoln South Eagles in the Port Lincoln Football League.

After having a run around with fellow Olympic swimmer and friend Kyle Chalmers at the club last year, Temple had so much fun he vowed to return for a couple of games after the Paris Olympics.

Unfortunately, Temple’s plan lasted less than one match after he injured his ankle in the third quarter, stretching a ligament and tearing another.

“I guess coming off the back of the Olympic Games, everyone goes on a bit of a break,” Temple, 25, said.

“That was my break, playing a game of footy.

“I played junior footy when I was 10, 11 and 12, and then last year myself and Kyle went across to Port Lincoln and we both played a game for the Lincoln South Eagles and I just had a ball out there and made some mates.

“I said I would do it again after the Olympic Games. I planned to play two games but got one game in …. and hurt my ankle towards the end of the third quarter.

“But that’s about what you’d expect when you play footy.”

Kyle Chalmers and Matt Temple. Picture: Michael Klein

Despite the injury, which is still causing Temple some discomfort now that he is back in the water swimming, he remains undeterred and hopes to be back on the footy field next year.

The dual Olympian said he loved playing Aussie rules, lining up at centre half-forward or on the forward flank, and it gave him an important outlet from the rigours of his swimming training.

“This season is over …. but I think come around next year, it depends on how my swimming is going, but I would love to get back there and play a few games of footy,” Temple said.

“I find it really enjoyable. I don’t know if it’s being in a different team environment or if it’s just a bit of an out from swimming, but I really enjoy it all.

“It definitely helps (me). It is just a totally different environment and running is just a totally different fitness to swimming in the pool.

“I really enjoy doing something else and I think my whole life I have normally been pretty good at keeping busy outside of the pool whether it is work or hobbies. Normally, once I leave the pool I am pretty good at forgetting about swimming.

“I found time last year for a game and I found time this year for a game, so I think there would definitely be at least one opportunity to play another game of footy I think.

“At this stage, the more the merrier.”

Matt Temple in action in the pool. Picture: Michael Klein

Temple will be back in the competition pool racing later this week for the Australian short course championships in Adelaide and has been working overtime with his physio on his ankle to get himself race ready.

“I stretched a ligament and tore another ligament, but I’m able to swim and it feels good doing day to day stuff at the minute,” the bronze medallist said.

“It’s still sore in the pool, but luckily my physio at the pool has been on my back and I’ve probably been seeing him two to three times a week, so it’s on the mend.

“I have only been in the water maybe four or five weeks now, so we will see how the body is going and see how the ankle goes with a bit of racing and a bit more load.”

Temple finished seventh in the 100m butterfly at the Paris Games and was a bronze medallist in the 4 x 100m mixed medley relay, but had hoped for a stronger individual performance.

“I was disappointed right after my swim in the final, obviously coming seventh hurts a bit when you see your hopes a little bit higher,” said Temple, who will swim the 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly in Adelaide.

The Australian men’s 4 x 100m medley team including Isaac Cooper, Josh Yong, Matt Temple and Kyle Chalmers in action at the Paris Olympics. Picture: Adam Head

“But coming away and reflecting on it, I have no regrets .... I think I have given it my all.

“It is a bit disappointing coming seventh, but you come back to Australia and your friends are proud of you, your family is proud of you, you still swam in an Olympic final, so that’s something to be proud of in itself.”

Temple plans to contest the World Cup circuit in Asia later this year before making a decision on his swimming plans for next year when the World Aquatics Championships will be held in Singapore in July and August.

“I will get to the end of the year and reassess how I am going and whether I want to have another sort of a break because I did not have much of a break after the Olympic Games and then I am back into swimming for the rest of the year,” Temple said.

“The 2025 world long course championships are in Singapore .... so that could be another opportunity to stand on the podium for an individual medal which has sort of been my goal for a while.

“I just love the racing aspect of swimming so I think by the time it rolls around I will be pretty keen to race it.”

ENDS

Originally published as Dual Olympian Matt Temple wants to keep playing Aussie rules alongside his swimming despite injuring his ankle on the footy field after Paris