Swimming

Inducted in 2016

Born with a congenital amputation to his lower left arm, Matthew Cowdrey has shown immense strength and courage to succeed and reach incredible heights in the world of swimming. Matt started swimming at the age of five, breaking his first Australian Open Record at 11 and World Record at 13.

His haul of 13 Gold Medals and 23 Medals in total is a record at the Paralympics by an Australian and he also holds five World Records, five Paralympian Records, nine Short Course World Records as well as 16 Gold Medals at three World Championships. Matthew returned home from the 2012 London Paralympics as Australia’s greatest ever Paralympian.

His amazing achievements were recognised when he was named the Australian Swimmer of the Year with a Disability four years in a row. Swimming World Magazine named him their World Swimmer of the Year with a Disability in 2009. Further recognition came when he was named Young South Australian of the Year in 2011 and in 2014 he was inducted into the Path of Champions at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.