Matt Klotz

Matthew James Klotz (born May 24, 1996) is an American male deaf swimmer who represents United States at the Deaflympics and other international events including the Deaf World Championships.[1][2] He is a world record holder in swimming for deaf and is considered one of the finest deaf swimmers to represent USA after the retirements of Marcus Titus and Reed Gershwind.[3]

Matt Klotz
Personal information
National teamUnited States United States
Born (1996-05-24) May 24, 1996
Cameron Park, California
Sport
SportSwimming
Medal record
Men's swimming


Representing  United States
Deaflympics
Gold medal – first place Sofia 2013 100m backstroke
Gold medal – first place Sofia 2013 200m backstroke
Gold medal – first place Samsun 2017 50m backstroke
Gold medal – first place Samsun 2017 100m backstroke
Gold medal – first place Samsun 2017 200m backstroke
Gold medal – first place Caxias do Sul 2022 50m freestyle
Gold medal – first place Caxias do Sul 2022 50m backstroke
Gold medal – first place Caxias do Sul 2022 100m backstroke
Silver medal – second place Samsun 2017 50m butterfly
Silver medal – second place Samsun 2017 50m freestyle
Silver medal – second place Caxias do Sul 2022 100m freestyle
Silver medal – second place Caxias do Sul 2022 200m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place Sofia 2013 400m individual medley
Bronze medal – third place Caxias do Sul 2022 50m breaststroke
Bronze medal – third place Caxias do Sul 2022 50m butterfly
Bronze medal – third place Caxias do Sul 2022 100m butterfly
Bronze medal – third place Caxias do Sul 2022 4x200m freestyle relay butterfly

Career

He came to limelight after taking part at the 2013 Summer Deaflympics which was held in Bulgaria, claiming 2 gold medals in 100m backstroke and in 200m backstroke events along with a bronze in the 400m individual medley category. He continued his Deaflympic career success with a medal haul of 5 including 3 gold medals in 50m, 100m as well as in 200m backstroke events during the 2017 Summer Deaflympics.[1][4]

He notably shattered two deaf world records during the 2018 US National Swimming Championship including his own established record in men's 50m backstroke event which he achieved it at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics with a timing of 26.26 seconds, which was his previous record.[5][6][7] He managed to re-establish his own world record in 50y backstroke with a timing of 19.77 seconds and became first ever deaf swimmer to swim 50y backstroke within 20 seconds.[8] He also broke the deaf world record in the men's 50m freestyle event clocking 23.14 seconds surpassing fellow veteran US national Marcus Titus record of 23.34 seconds.[9][10] He is also a national record holder in 200m freestyle, 500m freestyle, 100m backstroke and in 200m backstroke categories.

In December 2018, was awarded the ICSD Deaf Sportsman of the Year by International Committee of Sports for the Deaf for his outstanding performances at deaf sporting events including the world records that he set in both 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle events.[11][12][13][14] He was qualified to compete at the 2019 ICSD World Deaf Swimming Championships which will be held in São Paulo, Brazil.[15][16]

On July 31, 2023, it was announced that Klotz will appear on the 25th season of Big Brother and is the first deaf/hard of hearing contestant in the show's history.[17]

References
  1. "Matthew James KLOTZ". deaflympics.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  2. "Matt Klotz Bio". LSUsports.net. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  3. "Matthew Klotz Breaks 2 More Deaf Swimming Records at SEC Championships". SwimSwam. March 7, 2019. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  4. "Matthew Klotz Wins 3rd Gold of 2017 Deaflympics". SwimSwam. July 25, 2017. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  5. "Matt Klotz Breaks World Record At Deaflympics For Team USA". SwimSwam. July 20, 2017. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  6. "Matthew Klotz Breaks 2 Deaf World Records at US Nationals". SwimSwam. July 31, 2018. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  7. "Matthew Klotz 1 of 4 World Record Breakers at Deaflympics Day 3". SwimSwam. July 22, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  8. "Matt Klotz of LSU Sets Deaf World Record". Swimming World News. November 14, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  9. "LSU's Matthew Klotz Re-Breaks American Deaf Swimming Record in 50 Free". SwimSwam. November 14, 2018. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  10. "Klotz Sets Two WR's as LSU Swimmers Excel in Nationals". LSUsports.net. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  11. "Matthew Klotz". ciss.org. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  12. "LSU Swimmer Matthew Klotz Named ICSD Sportsman of the Year". SwimSwam. December 22, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  13. "Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year for the Deaf". ciss.org. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  14. "Matthew Klotz (swimming) named ICSD Sportsman of the Year, capping off record year". USA Deaf Sports Federation. December 22, 2018. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  15. "USA Deaf Swimming Selects Coaches for 2019 World Championships". SwimSwam. March 7, 2019. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  16. "USA Deaf Swimming : News". www.teamunify.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  17. Longeretta, Emily (July 31, 2023). "'Big Brother 25' Cast Includes Deaflympics Gold Medalist and More: Meet the 16 Houseguests". Variety. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
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