Matt Welsh

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Matt Welsh
File:Matt Welsh and Patti Newton.jpg
Welsh at 2008 Mt Waverley Village Christmas carols with Patti Newton
Personal information
Full name Matthew James Welsh
National team  Australia
Born (1976-11-18) 18 November 1976 (age 47)
Melbourne, Victoria
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 80 kg (180 lb)
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes Backstroke, butterfly
Club Melbourne Vicentre
Australian Institute of Sport

Matthew James Welsh, OAM (born 18 November 1976) is an Australian swimmer who is the former world champion in the backstroke and butterfly. He took two golds in 50-metre butterfly and 50-metre backstroke, during one hour, at the World Championships in Shanghai 2006. Welsh retired from professional swimming in March 2008 when he failed to secure a place in the team for the Beijing Olympics.[1]

Early years

Welsh started swimming in his final years at Scotch College, Melbourne and moved into competitive swimming in 1995 after leaving school at the age of eighteen. He trained under coach Ian Pope at the Melbourne Vicentre Club.[citation needed] His first big break came in 1998 at the world swimming championships in Perth, Western Australia with a gold in the 4x100-metre medley relay.

World and Olympic accomplishments

Event Time Place
1998 World Championships
100m Backstroke 55.45 6th
4×100m Medley 3:37.98 Gold AR
2001 World Championships
50m Backstroke 25.49 Bronze
100m Backstroke 54.31 Gold
200m Backstroke 1:58.80 4th
4×100m Medley 3:35.35 Gold
2003 World Championships
50m Butterfly 23.43 Gold WR
50m Backstroke 25.01 Silver AR
100m Backstroke 53.92 Silver AR
200m Backstroke 1:57.94 5th
2005 World Championships
50m Backstroke 24.99 Silver AR
100m Backstroke 54.89 9th
200m Backstroke 2:02.64 18th
2007 World Championships
50m Backstroke 25.61 8th
100m Backstroke 54.65 7th
4×100m Medley 3:34.93 Gold
Event Time Place
2000 Olympics
100m Backstroke 54.07 Silver AR
200m Backstroke 1:57.59 Bronze AR
4×100m Medley 3:35.27 Silver AR
2004 Olympics
100m Backstroke 54.52 5th
200m Backstroke 2:01.73 19th
4×100m Medley 3:39.14 9th

At 31 and after 11 years on the Australian Swim Team, Welsh was unable to beat the younger generation at the trials and was not selected to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Swimming history

Welsh has won several world championship titles in both backstroke and butterfly. He first broke the Australian record in the 100 metre backstroke in 1998. He also won more Australian swimming titles than any swimmer in history, claiming his 50th win at the 2006 Australian titles in Brisbane in December 2006.

Personal life

Welsh married Lauren Newton, the daughter of Bert Newton, on 4 November 2006. They are parents to a son Sam, born January 2008 and two daughters, Eva, born May 2009 and Lola, born March 2012.

Awards and honours

See also

References

  1. SMH.COM.AU, "Matt Welsh to quit the pool"
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External links

Template:Footer Commonwealth Champions 50m Backstroke Men