Matthew Haanappel

Matthew Anthony "Matt" Haanappel, (born 21 May 1994) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer. He was born in Wantirna, Victoria and resides in the far eastern suburbs of Melbourne. He has cerebral palsy right hemiplegia. Haanappel has represented Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, His disability severely impairs his fine motor skills and dexterity due to the spasticity in his right hand. Matthew attended the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre in Melbourne as a child, and is now an ambassador of the organisation. Haanappel was a student at Croydon Secondary College from 2008 to 2011. During 2012, he deferred his VCE to spend more time training.

Haanappel is also an ambassador and advocate for Sport in Victoria, which promotes physical activity and sporting excellence through students in public schools within Victoria.

Swimming

Haanappel is an S6 classified swimmer competing in 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke and 200m individual medley. He was reclassified in early 2012, having previously competed in S7 events. and is also a member of the Camberwell Grammar Aquatic Club when he trains in Melbourne.

Haanappel continues to mentor young swimmers at Lilydale Swimming Club. Internationally, he mostly competes against competitors in his own classification, but domestically he competes against swimmers in all disability classes and sometimes against able bodied swimmers in club and state level competitions. in the 200m individual medley, 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 50m butterfly, the 50m freestyle events. Going into the London Games, he was ranked fourth in the world in the 50 metre freestyle event and third in the 200 metre individual medley.

Towards the end of 2012, after a break from training, Haanappel returned under the coaching of Jonathan Shaw at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

2013 In 2013, Haanappel continued training at the University of the Sunshine Coast through to May when he returned to Melbourne and trained at the DVE Aquatic Club, under the instruction of Brian Miller (coach to the Australian team for the 2011 Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships). In October, Haanappel moved to the Norwood Swimming Club in Adelaide to help grow a Paralympic Swimming Program at the club.

2014 In 2014, Haanappel moved to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra to join the Swimming Australia National Training Centre. He was selected to the Australian Teams attending the Brazilian National Championships and the Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships, where he won three Gold, two Silver and one Bronze medal.

After the Paralympic Pan Pacific Championships, Haanappel returned to Melbourne to undergo surgery on his left shoulder. He did not swim the end of year's National Short Course Championships.

2015 As of 2015, Haanappel was listed as a supported athlete at the Australian Institute of Sport under Yuriy Vdovychenko, who trains in Melbourne with Ringwood Swimming Club.

2016 Haanappel contested the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships incorporating the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team Trials. He swam 50m and 100m in both Freestyle and Backstroke. He was selected to the Australian Dolphins National Swim Team and listed as an emergency for the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team. Haanappel was called up for formal selection in the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team in August after a nominated athlete was withdrawn. He was then assigned to Swimming Victoria State Team Coach, Michal Skrodzki for his preparation towards the Rio Games.

At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Haanappel competed in five events. He placed sixth in Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle (20 points), sixth in 100m Freestyle S6 and fifth in Men's 50m Freestyle S6. Before the Rio Paralympics, Haanappel said that he hoped to inspire others and "show everyone that people with disabilities can achieve things".

2018 Haanappel competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 50 metre Freestyle S7, placing 6th. He then trained at Camberwell Grammar Aquatic under Matthew Belgiovane.

Recognition

2008: School Sport Victoria AWD Award 2010: Leader Junior Sports Star Encouragement Award 2012: Leader Senior Sports Star of the Year

Personal bests