Matthew Klotz Breaks 2 Deaf World Records at US Nationals

American Deaflympian Matthew Klotz has broke three World Deaf Swimming Records last week in Irvine at the 2018 US National Championships.

First, in a time trial, he swam a 23.14 in the 50 long course meter freestyle, which broke the World Record of 23.34 done by Marcus Titus at the 2015 World Deaf Swimming Championships. Klotz’s previous personal best was 23.46 from 2016.

Titus, one of the most successful deaf swimmers in history, was a three-time member of the USA Swimming National Team and a 12-time NCAA All-American at Arizona.

Then, in the 50 back, Klotz broke his own World Record twice: first with a 26.06 in prelims, which tied him for 20th place in the heats, and then again with a 25.95 in the C-Final, which placed him 19th overall. Klotz’s previous World Record of 26.26 was done at the 2017 Deaflympics.

Klotz is a rising junior at LSU, where last season he had matching 18th-place finishes for LSU at the SEC Championships in both the 100 yard (47.57) and 200 yard (1:43.80) backstrokes. He also swam on LSU’s 8th-place 200 free relay, with a team-best split of 19.52.

There were no strobe lights or hand signals used to start races at this meet.

Watch the C Final in the 50 back below:

8
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

8 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Horninco
5 years ago

Do they swim those C and D finals later in the night after the A and B?

taj
5 years ago

Amazing accomplishment! Just curious about how the start works for him?

Fly or die
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

That’s honestly quite inconsiderate of USA swimming for not being accommodating towards him.

Jmanswimfan
Reply to  Fly or die
5 years ago

Quite horrible really.

swimmerTX
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

Is it just at this pool that there are no strobe lights, or is it protocol for all nationals held?

jay
5 years ago

Good for him!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »