Our ambassadors and patrons

Matthew Walker MBE

Matthew was born with Cerebral Palsy and started swimming as part of his physio which he hated. With the support of his family and swimming instructors he progressed though, local championships, county championships and CP galas and Nationals and World Championships. He made his first international appearance in Slovakia 1996 and this was followed by going to the European Championships in 1997 in Spain where he won a bronze in the 100 m breaststroke. Matt then followed this by ten further European Championship medals and Fourteen World Championship medals. He also won a bronze medal in the 50 m freestyle and finished fourth in the 100 m freestyle, at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, where he was the only disabled swimmer representing England.

Matt competed in the Paralympic Games for the first time during in the 2000 Games in Sydney. He received a bronze in the 100 m breaststroke SB7, silver in the 50 m freestyle S7 and gold in the 4×100 m freestyle 34 pts as part of the gold medal winning relay team, setting a new world record.

In the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Matt won a further two individual medals, silvers in both the 50 and 100 m S7 freestyle events, and was again part of the gold medal winning 4×100 m freestyle 34 pts relay team, setting a new world record.

Beijing 2008 was his third appearance at a Paralympic Games and Matt’s most successful to date with five medals won. He medalled in both the 50 and 100 m S7 freestyle events, and picked up medals in butterfly and medley events for the first time, winning silver in the 50 m S7 butterfly, with a European record time of 32.24 seconds, and bronze in the 200 m individual medley SM7.

Matt competed in his fourth Paralympics at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and he won a bronze medal in the S7 men’s 50 metres freestyle. Matt dedicated the medal to the memory of his father Alan.

Matt was awarded a MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours list.

Matt retired from swimming in 2015 when his Daughter Grace was born but Matt is still getting up at 5am to go to the pool where he coaches Masters, FE and junior swimmers.

City of Manchester Aquatic Swim Team set up the Matt Walker Academy for Disability Swimming in 2015 where Matt is coaching disability swimmers of the future to start there swimming goals right from the first steps and has had swimmers who have swam internationally, nationally and regionally. The academy is growing rapidly and has over 40 active swimmers

Matt 1st CP World Games was in 1997. Matt is an ambassador for Cerebral Palsy Sport and attends development galas, CP Nationals and was a coach at the CPISRA 2015 World Games in Nottingham.

Matt has recently started working for Swim North West Disability.

Boy in swimming pool
Boy in swimming pool

Matthew Walker MBE

Matthew was born with Cerebral Palsy and started swimming as part of his physio which he hated. With the support of his family and swimming instructors he progressed though, local championships, county championships and CP galas and Nationals and World Championships. He made his first international appearance in Slovakia 1996 and this was followed by going to the European Championships in 1997 in Spain where he won a bronze in the 100 m breaststroke. Matt then followed this by ten further European Championship medals and Fourteen World Championship medals. He also won a bronze medal in the 50 m freestyle and finished fourth in the 100 m freestyle, at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, where he was the only disabled swimmer representing England.

Matt competed in the Paralympic Games for the first time during in the 2000 Games in Sydney. He received a bronze in the 100 m breaststroke SB7, silver in the 50 m freestyle S7 and gold in the 4×100 m freestyle 34 pts as part of the gold medal winning relay team, setting a new world record.

In the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Matt won a further two individual medals, silvers in both the 50 and 100 m S7 freestyle events, and was again part of the gold medal winning 4×100 m freestyle 34 pts relay team, setting a new world record.

Beijing 2008 was his third appearance at a Paralympic Games and Matt’s most successful to date with five medals won. He medalled in both the 50 and 100 m S7 freestyle events, and picked up medals in butterfly and medley events for the first time, winning silver in the 50 m S7 butterfly, with a European record time of 32.24 seconds, and bronze in the 200 m individual medley SM7.

Matt competed in his fourth Paralympics at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and he won a bronze medal in the S7 men’s 50 metres freestyle. Matt dedicated the medal to the memory of his father Alan.

Matt was awarded a MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours list.

Matt retired from swimming in 2015 when his Daughter Grace was born but Matt is still getting up at 5am to go to the pool where he coaches Masters, FE and junior swimmers.

City of Manchester Aquatic Swim Team set up the Matt Walker Academy for Disability Swimming in 2015 where Matt is coaching disability swimmers of the future to start there swimming goals right from the first steps and has had swimmers who have swam internationally, nationally and regionally. The academy is growing rapidly and has over 40 active swimmers

Matt 1st CP World Games was in 1997. Matt is an ambassador for Cerebral Palsy Sport and attends development galas, CP Nationals and was a coach at the CPISRA 2015 World Games in Nottingham.

Matt has recently started working for Swim North West Disability.

Explore activities

Find sports and activities to suit your interests.

Get involved

Inspire change and join our vibrant community.

Become a member

Explore membership options and benefits.

Join our mailing list

Sign up today to receive all the latest news and information about CP Sport.