▼
UNCLE TOBYS Ambassador since 2012
SNAPSHOT
| Full Name: | Matthew John Cowdrey |
| D.O.B: | 22 December 1988 |
| Nickname: | MattyC |
| Where did you grow up: | Adelaide |
| Family Members | Peter (Dad), Vivienne (Mum), Felicity (Sister) |
| Height: | 182cm |
| Resides: | Adelaide |
| Coach Name: | Peter Bishop |
| Swimming Club: | Norwood Swim Club |
| Key Swimming Events: | 100m Breastroke 50m Freestyle 100m Freestyle 100m Backstroke 200m Individual Medley 4x100m Medley Relay 100m Butterfly 4 x100m Freestyle |
| Favourite UNCLE TOBYS Food: | UNCLE TOBYS Oats |
| Favourite Music: | Red Hot Chilli Peppers & U2 |
| Twitter: | @matt_cowdrey |
Career Highlights
2012 London Paralympic Games:
5 x GOLD medals
1 x WORLD RECORD
2 x SILVER medals
1 x BRONZE medals
2008 Beijing Paralympic Games:
5 x GOLD medals
5 x WORLD RECORD
3 x SILVER medals
2004 Athens Paralympic Games:
3 x GOLD medals
2 x SILVER medals
2 x BRONZE medals
- Being inducted into the AIS Hall of Fame and receiving an OAM.
- Young South Australian of the Year in 2009.
- By the age of 19, I had broken 72 world records, 127 Australian records and 180 Australian age records in a variety of strokes.
A Day in the Life
The alarm rings for me at 6:10am each morning and I am out of bed and off to training for a pool session that runs from 7:00am through to 9:00am. I typically head from training to the University of Adelaide to attend lectures and tutorials and then head back to the pool for a 4:00pm – 6:00pm session. After training I am home to eat, relax, and study.
Training Tips
- Attention to detail is important
- Train smart
- Fast is meant to be fast, slow is meant to be slow!
London Paralympic Events
100m Breastroke, 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 200m Individual Medley, 4x100m Medley Relay, 100m Butterfly, 4x100m Freestyle
Training Preparation For London Paralympics
My week consists of nine pool, three gym, two bike sessions and some dry land running across six days of the week with one day of rest.
Which event/race are you most looking forward to taking part in this Paralympics?
I am most looking forward to the 100m Free, 200 IM, as this will be my chance to win each event for the 3rd Paralympics in a row.
Which race that you are not swimming in is your favourite to watch?
4 x 200m Freestyle Women’s Relay at the Olympics, our Australian girls look like they have a great chance.
Besides swimming what other events at the Olympics do you love to watch?
The Wheelchair Rugby at the Paralympics, it’s a crazy sport!
Which team or individuals do you need to watch out for?
The British 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay team, they beat us in Athens and Beijing and I am looking forward to trying to go one better this time.
How did you get into your sport and how old were you?
I began swimming at a very young age. Our family had a back yard pool and I was actually swimming before I could walk.
What’s the best and worst thing about your sport?
The worst part is the early starts in the morning, however the best part is the travel and the people. This makes it all worth while.
What’s your secret weapon?
A carbon fibre gym arm.
Who was your sporting hero growing up, and now?
Lance Armstrong was and still remains my sporting hero.
What’s your most embarrassing sporting moment?
When I was a bit younger I was disqualified for touching the wall with only one arm! The referee didn’t understand my predicament.
What are the four most important things to do if you want to win?
There is only one thing to do if you want to win and that is work hard.
What’s the best advice your coach or fellow athletes have given you?
Work on your weaknesses as well as your strengths.
What’s something about you that most people don’t know?
I collect airline boarding passes!
