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Matt Klotz

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Matt Klotz
Personal information
National teamUnited States United States
Born (1996-05-24) May 24, 1996 (age 28)
Cameron Park, California
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Sport
SportSwimming
College teamLSU Tigers
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

Matthew James Klotz (born May 24, 1996) is an American male deaf swimmer and reality television contestant. He has represented the United States at the Deaflympics and in 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] He made his Deaflympic debut at the 2013 Summer Deaflympics.

He became runner-up in the 25th edition of the American reality show Big Brother after appearing in the show as one of the houseguests.[4][5]

Biography

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It is believed that his parents were unaware that their son was deaf until the age of 2. He is considered to be deaf and uses hearing aids. He holds dual citizenship in both the US and Hungary. In 2018, he insisted that he wanted to represent Hungary at the 2020 Summer Olympics instead of United States.[6] However, he was unable to change his sporting citizenship from the US to Hungary by the time the 2020 Summer Olympics happened.[6]

Career

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He rose to fame during the 2013 Summer Deaflympics held in Bulgaria, where he claimed two gold medals in the men's 100m backstroke[7] and 200m backstroke events,[8] alongside a bronze medal in the men's 400m individual medley event.[9] He continued his Deaflympic career success with a medal haul of five, including three gold medals in 50m backstroke,[10] 100m backstroke,[11] and 200m backstroke events[12] during the 2017 Summer Deaflympics.[1][13]

He notably shattered two deaf world records during the 2018 US National Swimming Championship, including his own previous record of 26.26 seconds in the men's 50m backstroke event from the 2017 Summer Deaflympics.[14][15][16] 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.[17] He also broke the deaf world record in the men's 50m freestyle event, clocking 23.14 seconds and surpassing Marcus Titus' record of 23.34 seconds.[18][19] 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.[20][21][22][23] He competed at the 2019 ICSD World Deaf Swimming Championships which will be held in São Paulo, Brazil.[24][25] He took part at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics and claimed a record medal tally of nine including three gold medals in men's 50m freestyle,[26] men's 50m backstroke[27] and men's 100m backstroke events.[28] He also clinched silver medals at the 2021 Deaflympics in men's 100m freestyle[29] and men's 200m backstroke events.[30] Furthermore, he secured four bronze medals during the 2021 Deaflympics in men's 50m butterfly,[31] men's 100m butterfly,[32] men's 50m breaststroke[33] and men's 4 200m freestyle relay events.[34]

On July 31, 2023, it was announced that Klotz would appear on the 25th season of Big Brother and become the first deaf/hard of hearing contestant in the show's history.[35][36] He would later go on to win second place. He strongly indicated his desire to represent Hungary at the 2024 Summer Olympics instead of representing his country of birth, the United States.[37] However he failed to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Matthew James KLOTZ". Archived from the original on March 2, 2024.
  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. ^ "Former LSU Tiger Matt Klotz Finishes As Runner-Up of Big Brother 25". SwimSwam. November 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Bergeron, Judy (July 31, 2023). "Watch Louisiana man and former LSU athlete on 'Big Brother' this season". The Advocate. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Deaf LSU Swimmer Trains For Summer Olympics". TigerTV. November 8, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  7. ^ "Sofia 2013 - Swimming 100m backstroke (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  8. ^ "Sofia 2013 - Swimming 200m backstroke (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  9. ^ "Sofia 2013 - Swimming 400m individual medley (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  10. ^ "Samsun 2017 - Swimming 50m backstroke (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "Samsun 2017 - Swimming 100m backstroke (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "Samsun 2017 - Swimming 200m backstroke (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "Matthew Klotz Wins 3rd Gold of 2017 Deaflympics". SwimSwam. July 25, 2017. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "Matthew Klotz 1 of 4 World Record Breakers at Deaflympics Day 3". SwimSwam. July 22, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  17. ^ "Matt Klotz of LSU Sets Deaf World Record". Swimming World News. November 14, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Klotz Sets Two WR's as LSU Swimmers Excel in Nationals". LSUsports.net. August 3, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  20. ^ "Matthew Klotz". ciss.org. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  21. ^ "LSU Swimmer Matthew Klotz Named ICSD Sportsman of the Year". SwimSwam. December 22, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  22. ^ "Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year for the Deaf". ciss.org. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "USA Deaf Swimming : News". www.teamunify.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  26. ^ "Caxias do Sul 2022 - Swimming 50m freestyle (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  27. ^ "Caxias do Sul 2022 - Swimming 50m backstroke (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  28. ^ "Caxias do Sul 2022 - Swimming 100m backstroke (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  29. ^ "Caxias do Sul 2022 - Swimming 100m freestyle (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  30. ^ "Caxias do Sul 2022 - Swimming 200m backstroke (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  31. ^ "Caxias do Sul 2022 - Swimming 50m butterfly (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  32. ^ "Caxias do Sul 2022 - Swimming 100m butterfly (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  33. ^ "Caxias do Sul 2022 - Swimming 50m breaststroke (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  34. ^ "Caxias do Sul 2022 - Swimming 4x200m freestyle relay (Men)". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  35. ^ 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.
  36. ^ Bergeron, Judy (November 9, 2023). "11 things to know about Louisiana's Matt Klotz before the 'Big Brother' finale". The Advocate. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  37. ^ Sutherland, James (August 14, 2023). "Deaf WR Holder Matthew Klotz Reportedly Eyeing Hungarian Olympic Team In 2024". SwimSwam. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
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