Competing at the Los Angeles World Summer Games is a dream come true for Special Olympics Waikato athlete Matthew Slone. The 21-year-old swimmer has been training with Special Olympics since the age of eight.
Based in Hamilton, Matthew’s sole sport focus is aquatics and he takes it very seriously training weekly under the careful watch of his father and coach David Slone.
According to Special Olympics Waikato Coordinator Alistair Higgins, “Matthew is a very keen and competitive swimmer and always swims his best. He will do us all proud in LA.”
Matthew is a gregarious athlete and loves meeting new people, making new friends, and keeping in touch with fellow athletes and teammates. Matthew has just made the big step of leaving home and going flatting with friends in Hamilton. While swimming is his main interest he is an avid follower of football (notably the Phoenix Football team), rugby (favourite teams: the Hurricanes and the Chiefs), and hockey (Black Sticks). He also enjoys hot air ballooning, drumming, trains and cars.