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Matt Shirvington Profile |
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Birth Date: October 25, 1978
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Birth Place: Sydney, New South Wales
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Birth Name: Matt Shirvington
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Height: 6'0"
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Biography |
Matt Shirvington is an Australian athlete who won the
Australian 100 and 200 metre national sprint titles on
multiple occasions. After tearing his hamstring training for
the 2004 Summer Olympics, he became the host of the
Australian Channel 7 television program Beyond Tomorrow in
2005.
Born in Frenchs Forest, Sydney, on October 25, 1978,
Shirvington took the Australian 100 metre record with his
fourth place finish, in 10.03 seconds in the 1998
Commonwealth Games event, until rival Patrick Johnson took
the record with a time of 9.93 seconds.
Matt started his international carrer in 1996 as a 4x100 m
relay reserve at the World Juniors. In 1998 at the
Commonwealth Games, he did a sensational run with 10.03
seconds in the 100 m. He also showed his international
capability with a fourth placing over 60 m at the 1999 World
Indoors behind Maurice Greene.
In 2000 he took the Australian 100 m record at Stadium
Australia. Further success at the Telstra Olympic Trials
with a 100 m season best performance of 10.11 saw Matt
selected for the 2000 Olympics in the 100 m, 200 m and 4 x
100 m relay. Matt progressed well through the 100 m rounds
at the Olympics finishing fifth in his semi final but
unfortunately had to withdraw from the 200 m quarter final
due to illness. He was also disqualified for the 4x100 m
relay semi-final.
In March 2001 he made his second 60 metre World Indoor
Championship final. Under an injury cloud he claimed his
fourth consecutive national title, before taking a rest from
training and competition to get married. He proceeded to the
100 m semi-finals at the 2001 World Championships, and
helped the 4x100 m relay to a higher than expected fourth
place. He placed third in the Goodwill Games 100 m and in
October was diagnosed with another injury, multiple shin
stress fractures. Matt resumed competition in late March
2002 and suffered a series of defeats in the Telstra
A-Series but rose to the occasion to clinch his 5th
consecutive National title in April.His selection in the
Commonwealth Games team was his 9th National team. Matt is
compiling an impressive international record with final
berths at the Commonwealth Games and World Indoors and
semi-final places at the Olympics and World Championships.
Osteitis Pubis forced Matt to withdraw from the 2002
Commonwealth Games Team. After a poor start to the 2003
domestic season, he eventually defeated Patrick Johnson in
the Telstra A-Series meet in Sydney. Attempting to win his
sixth consecutive National 100 m title, he was defeated by
Patrick Johnson. A week later on the Gold Coast he ran
10.09, his fastest time for four years. Ran a best of 10.17
prior to the World Championshps where he progressed to the
quarter final. Helped the relay team to 6th in the semi.
Upon return to Australia he was diagnosed with glandular
fever. Ran okay early in January 2004, with times of
10.33/10.27w, but was injured in late January and missed the
remainder of the season. In March travelled to London to
prepare for the European season, but in 7 races he could
only break 10.50 once (10.48). In late June 2004 decided not
to try for Olympic selection and finished his season there.
Started the 2005 domestic season in promising form clocking
10.29w and 10.32 in Perth. Placed fourth in the National 100
m. Selected for the World Championships in the 4x100 m relay
where he ran in the heat only helping the team to the final
where they placed a brilliant 5th.
After tearing his hamstring training for the 2004 Summer
Olympics, he became the host of the Australian Channel 7
television program Beyond Tomorrow in 2005. |
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Other Information |
100 metre and 200 metre athlete who competed at the
Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998 and the
Olympics at Sydney in 2000.
Missed out on the Athens Olympics due to sustaining an
injury in which he pulled a leg muscle. |
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