Matthew Stanley
Matthew is one of the very recent successes from Matamata College. His aim is to represent his country at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. At just 20 years of age Matthew has done the miles – literally and figuratively.
Starting at the Matamata Swimming Club way back when he was seven years of age, Matthew has spent hours “flying” up and down the pool training to reach his ambition to become an Olympian.
While at school he was the swimming champion in each of his five years and currently still holds many records at all levels. His talent earned him the “Sportsman of the Year” 2007 and “Most Persevering Sportsman of the Year” 2009. Both of those years he was the Matamata Swimming Club “Swimmer of the Year”.
From 2007 onwards Matthew has won numerous national titles and has been selected in a number of team to travel and represent his country in age group and now senior level:
2007 Men’s 15 and under Four Medals
2008 National Age Groups 5th 200 m and 400 m freestyle
Finals 200 m individual medley, 100 m and 200 m backstroke
NZ Spring Open Fastest 16 year old
NZ Short Course 7th 200 m and 400 m freestyle
2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival (Sydney)
NZ 17 and under Trans Tasman Team (Melbourne, Wodonga and Canberra)
Swim Waikato Record Holder Men’s 17 years:
Selected for NZ Tri Series Development Squad
2010 Youth Olympics (Singapore)
5th 200 m freestyle – NZ 18 long course record
7th 400 m freestyle
Oceania Open Championships (Samoa)
Two Silver medals
Queensland Championships (Brisbane)
2010 National Achievements
NZ Open Short Course (Mount Maunganui)
Two Gold, 1 Bronze medal
NZ Age Group Short Course (Wellington)
Four Gold, 3 Silver medals
NZ Open Long Course (Auckland)
Bronze 200 m freestyle
Auckland Harbour Crossing
3rd Elite (2nd NZer)
Auckland Open Two Gold medals
Auckland Winter One Gold medal
Records 24 Waikato open and age group
Auckland 18 years 400 m freestyle (long course)
Auckland 18 years 400 m freestyle (short course)
2011 Aquablacks FINA World Team (Shanghai)
Currently ranked 23rd in world 200 m freestyle
Swim NZ World University Games (Shenzhen, China)
Bronze 4 x 100 m medley relay
4th 200 m freestyle
6th 400 m freestyle
USA Grand Prix Silver 200 m freestyle – Big West Classic (Arizona)
4th 200 m freestyle (Mission Viejo)
6th 400 m freestyle (Mission Viejo)
NZ Open Gold National Title Holder 200 m freestyle
Bronze 400 m freestyle
Auckland Open 1st 200 m freestyle
1st 400 m freestyle
As well as gaining all these fantastic results in the pool, out of the pool Matthew has gained numerous distinguished awards:
Of special significance, Matthew was selected from the 65 strong NZ Youth Olympic team as the NZ Ambassador. In this capacity he attended a function and a press conference in Singapore with the President of the International Olympic Committee. Many people no doubt saw and heard Matthew being interviewed on NZ television.
Matthew’s other accolades include:
NZ Emerging International Swimmer of the Year
Matamata Piako District Junior Sportsman of the Year 2010 and 2011
Waikato Regional Sports Awards finalist 2011
Holder of a Prime Minister’s Scholarship 2010
Massey University High Achievers Scholarship 2010
Silver Status Carded Athlete
Matthew lives in Auckland and trains at the Millennium Institute. However he still swims out of the Matamata Club and Waikato Region to show his loyalty and give back to this area by representing them at National meets and acting as a mentor for young swimmers. The future looks very bright for this young swimmer!