Matthew Hutchins (born 19 September 1994) is a New Zealand swimmer who qualified to compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the men's 400 metre freestyle.

Personal life

Hutchins was born on 19 September 1994 in Blenheim, New Zealand,[1][2] and educated at Lincoln High School, near Christchurch.[3] He attends the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States on a scholarship.[4] He has an older sister, Laura.

Career

Hutchins is a member of the Wharenui Swim Club.[1] He competed at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games held in the Isle of Man, where he won four medals in the swimming events.[5] Hutchins took the gold medal in the 400 metre freestyle,[6] silver medals in both the 200 metre freestyle and the 1500 metre freestyle events,[7][8] and was part of the New Zealand team that won the bronze medal in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay.[9]

Hutchins represented the Wisconsin Badgers at the 2016 NCAA Division I swimming championships held in Atlanta, Georgia winning a bronze medal in the 1,650 yards (1,510 m) freestyle event, improving his personal best by five seconds in the process. During the meet he also beat his previous personal best time in the 500 yards (460 m) freestyle, in which he placed sixth with a school record time of 4 minutes 13.35 seconds. He won All-American honours in both disciplines.[10]

At the 2016 Canadian Olympic Trials held in Toronto, Ontario, the second official trial for New Zealand swimmers to meet the qualifying times for 2016 Summer Olympics, Hutchins completed his heat of the 400 metre freestyle event in a time of three minutes 49.84 seconds, over half a second faster than the FINA A qualifying standard for Rio. He beat the qualifying standard again during the B Final of the event, which he won in a time of three minutes 50.12 seconds.[4]

On 15 April 2016, Hutchins was named as one of five Olympic debutants in a squad of eight swimmers to represent New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He competed in the men's 400 metre freestyle[11][12] but did not advance beyond his heat. Hutchins now works as a pool lifeguard at the Graham Condon Recreation and sport centre.

References

  1. ^ a b "Matthew Hutchins". Swimming New Zealand. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Matt Hutchins". University of Wisconsin. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  3. ^ Egan, Brendon (27 March 2016). "New Zealand swimmer Matthew Hutchins claims NCAA division one bronze medal". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b "New Zealand freestyle swimmer Matthew Hutchins beats Olympics qualifying time". stuff.co.nz. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Competitor Details - Matthew Hutchins". Official Website of the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Swimming - Men's 400m Freestyle". Official Website of the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Game. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Swimming - Men's 200m Freestyle". Official Website of the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Swimming - Men's 1500m Freestyle". Official Website of the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Swimming - Men's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay". Official Website of the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  10. ^ Egan, Brendan (29 March 2016). "New Zealand swimmer Matt Hutchins dreams of Rio Olympics after winning bronze". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  11. ^ Hinton, Mark (15 April 2016). "Breaststroker Glenn Snyders has date with destiny at Rio, and beyond". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  12. ^ "NZ name eight-strong swim team for Rio". Radio New Zealand. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
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