Lumen Summer 2013 - Flipbook - Page 8
story by Ben Osborne
A Law Degree
unto himself
It’s instructive that Matt Cowdrey OAM –
Australia’s most successful Paralympian –
considers himself to be more than a sportsman.
A
fter winning a staggering 23
Paralympic medals – including
13 gold – across three Games,
he’s also nearing completion of a double
degree in Media and Law at the University
of Adelaide.
And he’s still only 23 years old!
Matt was born without part of his left
arm, and was swimming in his family’s
backyard pool by six months of age.
After starting competitive swimming
at nine, he began to dream big after
the Sydney Paralympics in 2000, which
featured wheelchair racer Louise Sauvage.
“The next year we had a State
development camp here in Adelaide and
we were asked to write our goals down
on a bit of paper, and I wrote down that I
wanted to go to the Paralympics and win
gold medals,” he said.
“The coach came back and said ‘I don’t
want you to write your dream down there
– I want you to write a realistic goal’ – so
that was pretty funny.”
Matt has committed to competing
at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth
Games and hopes to extend that to the
2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
His more immediate short-term focus
is his studies and preparation for life
after swimming.
He’s completed his Media degree (and
will graduate in April 2013), and hopes to
finish Law by the end of 2013.
“I’ve always strived to do something
away from the pool – it’s not like I see
myself as purely a sportsman. I’ve got a
lot of goals outside of sport,” he said.
Matt has already spent time working
with the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade in Canberra and Brisbane, and is
eyeing a career in that field.
“I kind of look at diplomatic service as
another way I can represent Australia,”
he said.
“A lot of skills that I’ve learned from
swimming translate over as well: the
6 Lumen | Summer 2013
I’ve always strived
to do something away
from the pool… I’ve
got a lot of goals
outside of sport.
communicating, the ability to cope with
huge varieties of personalities and those
sorts of things.”
For now, the focus is university.
“I’m lucky to have a Sports Ambassador
Scholarship at the uni, and I’ve spoken at
functions and events for the Development
and Alumni Office.
“It’s a way that I can give back and help
the uni. I’m a very proud South Australian
and very proud to be at the University of
Adelaide – I’ve enjoyed my time here and
have no problems endorsing the uni as
much as I possibly can.”
Above: Matt Cowdrey OAM
at Hub Central, The University
of Adelaide.
