Matthew Swanston Season 2011-12

Feature Stories: 7/1/11 on YouTube|

All-American [6]:
100 Backstroke - 2011 (11th), 2012 (14th)
200 Backstroke - 2011 (4th), 2012 (4th)
200 Medley Relay - 2011 (5th)
400 Medley Relay - 2011 (3rd)

Stanford Record Books: 100 Back (8th, 46.73, 2011), 200 Back (8th, 1:40.88, 2011)

International Competition: Member of the Canadian National Team... Just missed the cut for the Canadian Olympic team, finishing third in the 100 back at Trials in March, 2012.... at the World University Games in China in 2011, finished sixth in the 200 back with a time of 1:59.54. Also swam the leadoff leg for the 4x100 medley relay team that finished sixth... swam third in the 200 back at the Santa Clara Invite (2:00.54) to begin the summer as he was the top long-distance Canadian backstroker at the meet.... swam for Canada at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine in August, 2010 finishing in the consolation finals and 12th overall in the 200 backstroke... at the Canadian Trials in the summer of 2010, was fourth in the 100-meter event (56.86) and third in the 50 backstroke (26.88) and 200-meter event (2:00.92)... reached the A Finals of the 200 back, where he was seventh, the C Finals of the 200 butterfly and the B Finals of the 100 back at the Santa Clara Invite in 2010... racing for Canada at the World University Games in Serbia in 2009, was sixth in the finals of the 200 backstroke (2:00.59).... as a member of Canada in a tri-meet with England and Russia, won a silver medal in the 200 backstroke (1:58.61) and bronze medals in the 100 back stroke, 4x200 relay and 4x100 medley relay.. also was a member of Canada's team at the British Grand Prix Short Course, where he was sixth in the 200 backstroke (1:56.02) and ninth in the "B" finals of the 100 (49.62), two-tenths short of his personal-best... won a silver medal in the 200 backstroke in Monterrey, Mexico in 2008... in 2008 and 2009 was named Canada's Junior Male Swimmer of the Year... also swam in the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii in 2007 and in Guam in 2009.

2011-12 Season (Junior): Finished his third season as a two-time All-American in the 100 and 200 back, entering his senior year with 39 points at NCAAs... was fourth in the 200 back (1:41.99) and was 14th in the 100 back (47.31). He was one of three Cardinal in the top-four in the event-- David Nolan (1st), Matt Thompson (3rd) and Swanston (4th)... finished third in the 200 back (1:42.23) behind Nolan's time and reached the A Finals of the 100 back at Pac-12s, where he was eighth.... second in dual competition in the 200 back versus Hawaii, Pacific, and Utah and second in the 100 back versus USC... third at the tri-distance Cal fall meet in the combined backstroke... won the 100 back at the Arena Invite... second team Academic All-Pac-12.

2010-11 Season (Sophomore): Finished off second season with a fourth place finish in the 200 back (1:42.00) at NCAAs and 11th place showing in the 100 back for the third place Cardinal... also part of third place 400 medley relay team and fifth place 200 medley team... ranked No. 5 nationally in the 200 back and No. 15 in the 100 back... at Pac-10s, was the conference runner-up in the 200 back (1:41.47) and finished fifth in the 100 back (47.12)... also won the Pac-10 consolation finals of the 200 IM (1:45.99), also part of second place 400 and 200 medley relay teams... during the dual season won the 200 back four times (Cal, CS Bakersfield, ASU, Pacific) as well as the 100 fly (CS Bakersfield), 100 back (Pacific)... during the fall won the 100 back at the Long Beach Arena Invite... Academic All-Pac-10.

2009-2010 Season (Freshman): Finished sixth in the 100 backstroke and fifth in the 200 backstroke at the Pac-10 Championships, setting season bests in teh 200 back (47.71) and 200 back (1:42.23)...finished second in the 200 backstroke against USC... won the 100 backstroke at the Toshiba Classic.

Prep Career: Was a member of the Newmarket (Canada) Swim Club from 1997 to 2009, as high school team did not have a team.

Personal: Majoring in politics... parents are Alan and Avril... has one younger brother, Jeffrey.