“I compete in swimming to show myself that I can achieve whatever I want, not what I am limited by.”

In 1987, Matt Levy was born prematurely at 25 weeks. He has cerebral palsy, is legally blind, and has had 40-50 operations on his heart, lungs, ears, and even brain.

Matt is also a swimmer. You might have seen him win gold for Australia. He has competed at five consecutive Paralympic Games, winning 3 gold 1 silver, and 5 bronze medals. He’s also swam at 5 World Swimming Championships - winning 20 international medals and holding 4 World Records.

  • Vision Impairment and Physical Impairment – Cerebral palsy and Hydrocephalus

  • Premature birth at 25 weeks

  • January 11, 1987

  • Northbridge, NSW, Australia

  • Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2021

  • His parents

  • Winning gold in the 4x100m freestyle at Beijing 2008

Timeline

  • 2002 – Spanish Nationals: 5 Gold- fastest junior in my classification in Para swimming.

  • 2003 – Can am Para Pan Pacs Swimming: 7 Gold – First senior team. Fastest in the country for my class in the 100 Butterfly and 50 Breastroke

  • 2004 - Athens Paralympic Games: Finalist in 5 events. Fastest for my class in the 400 FS nationally

  • 2006 – IPC Swimming World Championships: Finalist – first world championships.

  • 2008 – Bejing Paralmypic Games: 1 Gold 4x 100 Medley Relay. Fastest 400 FS swimmer in nation for class. Won first ever Paralympic gold medal in 4x100Im Relay.

  • 2009 – World Championships: 4 Gold 2 sliver 4 World Records- Fastest S7over100m in Freestyle and IM events. 50fly event Won 100 Fs by 13metres.

  • 2010 – World Championships: 3 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 bronze 2 World Records. Fastest relay team in history for the IM and FS relays.

  • 2011 – Can Am Para Pan Pacs Swimming5 Gold. Fastest for my class in the world for that year in the 50,100 and 400 FS

  • 2012 – Paralympic Games London1 gold 4×100 Free 1 silver 100 Freestyle S7, 3 Bronze, 200 IM, 100 Breastroke and 4x 100 Medley Relay. Lead by 14metres in my Freestyle relay leg in the 4×100 FS.

  • 2013 – World Championships: 2 Gold 1 silver 1 bronze- Flag bearer at the opening ceremony.Won my first ever world championship gold medal.

  • 2014 – USA Para Pan Pacs Swimming: 7 Gold – Most gold medals by anyone at that swim meet.

  • 2015 – World Championships: 2 Silver, Bronze.

  • 2016 – Paralympics Rio1: Bronze. One of only 3 swimmers to attend a Paralympics as a competitor.

Major events

  • Finalist in 5 events. Fastest for class in the 400 FS nationally

  • 1 Gold 4x 100 Medley Relay. Fastest 400 FS swimmer in nation for class. Won first ever Paralympic gold medal in 4x100Im Relay

  • 1 gold 4×100 Free 1 silver 100 Freestyle S7, 3 Bronze, 200 IM, 100 Breastroke and 4x 100 Medley Relay. Lead by 14metres in my Freestyle relay leg in the 4×100 FS.

  • 1 Bronze. One of only 3 swimmers to attend a Paralympics as a competitor.

  • Gold 50 freestyle, s7

  • Bronze 4×100 freestyle relay.

  • 1 bronze 100 breaststroke, 4×100 freestyle gold .