Cowdrey Promotes Swimming in Australia

18 Nov 2010 By IPC

Australia’s most successful male Paralympic swimmer Matthew Cowdrey has flown across the country to spread the benefits of Swimming to some of the Northern Territory’s indigenous and most remote communities.

The 21-year-old, who is based in Canberra at the Australian Institute of Sport, is lending his time and expertise to help teach 150 indigenous Australian school children from seven communities how to improve their Swimming ability as part of Swimming NT’s three day Bush Schools Swimming and Lifestyle Clinic in Alice Springs.

Working with the Yipirinya School, which offers indigenous students a two-way education in western literacy and numeracy, and Aboriginal languages and culture, the clinic is designed to promote Swimming and a healthy lifestyle among the remote schools from the Northern Territory and South Australia.

The South Australian born Cowdrey, who has won an astonishing eight Paralympic gold medals at two Paralympic Games, relishes any chance to spread the Swimming message.

“I love any opportunity I get to promote Swimming, but to do it with a unique backdrop like Alice Springs makes it even more special,” said Cowdrey.

“It’s great to see the smile on all the kids’ faces and to know that I am contributing to that is just magic.”

The Australian Paralympic Committee is also looking to improve sport in the Northern Territory by concentrating on the development of talented athletes with a disability, through the recent appointment of Jason Bremner to the new role of Northern Territory Development Co-ordinator.