Matthew Cowdrey

At just 19 years of age, Matthew Cowdrey has 8 Paralympic, 2 Commonwealth, and 5 World Championship Gold Medals under his belt.

His staggering haul of 5 World Records, 5 Gold Medals and 3 Silver Medals in Beijing demonstrates the versatility of this athlete, drawing many comparisons to Michael Phelps of America.

Born with a congenital amputation to his lower left arm, Cowdrey has shown immense strength and courage to succeed and reach incredible heights in the world of swimming.

Cowdrey started swimming at the age of five and was determined to not just be as good as any able bodied person, but to be better. Having set his goals for success, Cowdrey quickly stamped his mark on his S9 classification, breaking his first Australian open record at age 11 and world record at age 13.

In 2004 he competed at the Paralympics in Athens where he won three gold, two silver and two bronze medals and finished the meet with two World & Paralympic Record times. His amazing achievements were recognised when he was named the Australian Swimmer of the Year with a Disability four years in a row.

Cowdrey dominated the national titles in 2006, winning all eight of his events and breaking seven world records to qualify for his first Commonwealth Games team. He continued to improve on his personal best times and became the only Australian male swimmer to win individual gold at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games — where he won gold in the men's 50m and 100m EAD Freestyle events, both in world record time. His brilliant performances were recognised when he was awarded the Commonwealth Sports Award for most outstanding male elite athlete with a disability.

Having never competed at the World Championships, Cowdrey produced a phenomenal performance at his first world titles in South Africa in 2006, winning an incredible five gold medals, two silver and a bronze.

Cowdrey is a phenomenal athlete, confident speaker and inspirational human being who is currently studying law & media at the University of Adelaide.

Achievements

2008 Beijing Paralympic Games

GOLD medal and WORLD RECORD: 50m & 100m Freestyle, 200 Individual Medley, 100m
Backstroke, 4x100m Medley Relay
SILVER medal: 100m Butterfly, 400m Freestyle, 4x100m Freestyle relay.

2004 Athens Paralympic Games

GOLD medal and WORLD RECORD: 100m Freestyle, 200m Individual Medley, 4x100m Medley Relay
SILVER medal: 100m Butterfly, 4x100m Freestyle Relay
BRONZE medal: 50m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle

2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games

GOLD medal and WORLD RECORD: 50m Freestyle (EAD), 100m Freestyle (EAD)

2006 South Africa International Paralympic Committee World Swimming Championships

GOLD medal and WORLD RECORD: 100m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle, 400m Medley Relay
GOLD medal: 50m Freestyle, 200m Individual Medley
SILVER medal: 100m Backstroke, 400m Freestyle Relay
BRONZE medal: 400m Freestyle

2008 Sydney Telstra Australian Swimming Championships

GOLD medal: 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke,100m Butterfly
SILVER medal: 200m Individual Medley, 400m Freestyle

2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Trials

GOLD medal and WORLD RECORD: 200m Individual Medley (MD), 100m Backstroke (MD), 50m Backstroke (MD), 50m Butterfly (MD),
GOLD medal: 100m Freestyle (MD), 50m Freestyle (MD)

Commonwealth Games Trials - Team Qualification Races

GOLD medal and WORLD RECORD: 100m Freestyle (EAD)
GOLD medal: 50m Freestyle (EAD)

2005 Sydney Telstra Australian Open

7 Gold Medals, 2 Bronze Medals, 2 WORLD RECORDS

Australia Day Honours

Awarded OAM for Service to Sport as a Gold Medallist in the Athens Paralympics 2005

Honours

Swimming World Magazine

World Swimmer of the Year with a Disability

Telstra Swimmer of the Year Awards

Swimmer of the Year with a Disability 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Telstra Australian All-Star Swim Team 2006, 2007

Commonwealth Sports Awards

Outstanding Male Elite Athlete with Disability Award 2006

2004 Australian Paralympian of the Year Awards

Young Paralympian of the Year

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