• People

From the ocean to the council chambers

• 2 Days Ago - 2025-09-11 11:16:00

Namibian Olympian Phillip Seidler has confirmed that he will stand as a candidate for the Swakopmund Residents Association (SRA) in the upcoming local authority elections scheduled for late November.
Seidler, a two-time Olympic open-water swimmer from Swakopmund, said his decision to enter politics was driven by a long-held ambition to contribute to sports development and community upliftment through a broader platform. “I have always dreamed of becoming Namibia’s sport minister one day and also being in Parliament,” he said. “At the Olympics, I was inspired by the impact one can make through sport for one’s country.”
Earlier this year, Seidler co-founded Team Flippy Sports and Events, an initiative he says demonstrated the unifying power of sport in Swakopmund. The organisation has hosted coastal runs and open-water swimming challenges in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Henties Bay. He now hopes to extend that impact through local government.
Positive effect
“We saw the positive effect we could have on our community by uniting people from all backgrounds,” he said. “Politics is a much bigger platform to create a positive impact, promote change, and take part in decision-making for Swakopmund.”
Seidler confirmed that he is on the SRA’s candidate list for the October nominations. If successful, he will contest the November local elections and potentially take a seat on the Swakopmund Municipal Council.
While emphasising sports development as his primary focus, Seidler said he intends to work across all sectors. “I’m currently studying the different fields through the Swakopmund Residents Association, and I have a very strong team behind me, informing and guiding me,” he said. “I’m not only going to be involved in sport, but in all areas, because that is what you have to do if you want to be a member of the Swakopmund Council.”
'I love a fight'
He added that he is prepared for criticism, noting that his resilience as an athlete has prepared him for political challenges.
“Politics is, as everyone says, a dirty game. But I love a fight; I love a challenge. I’m a very resilient person, which is also necessary if you want to step into politics,” he said.
Seidler argued that Namibia has the resources and leadership to succeed but needs more active engagement and accountability.
“If every leader and every politician did their job at 100%, we would probably be the best country in Africa, and almost in the world. We have the resources, the big corporates and companies in the private sector, and a government. We have so much funding available to make this country better and greater,” he said.