Matthew Hawes is a male swimmer

Swimming (sport)

Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...

 from Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, who mostly competes in the backstroke events. He claimed a bronze medal (4x100m medley relay) at the 2007 Pan American Games

2007 Pan American Games

The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...

 in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

, Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

.

Hawes set a new Canadian record in the 200m backstroke at the 2007 Spring National Championships (Pan Am Games Trials) clocking 1:58.64. He won gold and silver medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke respectively at the 2006 Canadian National Championship. His father, John Hawes, competed in swimming at the 1972 Olympic Games

1972 Summer Olympics

The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....

 and in modern pentathlon

Modern pentathlon

The modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run...

 at the 1976 Olympic Games

1976 Summer Olympics

The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...

in swimming.
At the 2009 World Aquatic Trials in Montreal Hawes set a new national record in the 200 metre backstroke (1:57.34) earning him a spot on the World Championship team. After competing at the World Championships and placing 18th, he broke the longest standing mens National record in Leeds, England in the 200 metre backstroke (SC) clocking 1:52.21.

Currently, Matt Hawes has won 22 National titles, and has broken 6 Canadian Records over his career. He just won his 22nd National title at the 2011 World Championship trials in the 200m Backstroke, clocking 1:58.89 which positions him at 8th fastest time in the world this year.

Currently, Hawes is training with previous assistant coach of the Texas Longhorn Mens Varsity Swim Team, Bobby Folan at the University of Sydney Australia. Folan was under the tutelage of Eddie Reese in Texas, where they both coached Aaron Peirsol, Garreth Weber-Gale and Brendan Hansen to the 2008 Olympic Games.