Trinity Olympians TOBA
T
he Trinity community was proud that five of its old boys were selected to represent Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympics Games and Jeremy McClure current Year 12 student was chosen to represent his country at the 2004 Paralympic Games. We extend our congratulations to:
Ben Cureton (Class of 1998) – Rowing Silver Medallist – Lightweight Men’s Four Ben represented Trinity in rowing. He won Gold, Silver and two Bronze medals at World Cups in Lucerne, Munich and Zagreb. Ben was the youngest member in the crew in Athens. They won the Silver medal becoming Trinity’s first ever Olympic Medallist in rowing. Antony Matkovich (Class of 1994) – Swimming Silver Medallist - Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Squad Antony was captain of the school swim team and was an outstanding player in the local water polo competition. He played water polo for AIS. He represented Australia in the 4x200 metres freestyle. At the Athens Olympics he represented his country with distinction. He is currently training with the intention of gaining selection for the 2005 World Championship team. Jeremy McClure (Class of 2004) – Swimming Finalist – 100m Backstroke (Paralympics) Jeremy changed to swimming only sixteen months ago after a promising career in water polo when he lost his sight at fifteen from the hereditary nerve disease Leber’s optic neuropathy. In the Athens Paralympic team he represented his country in 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke and 400m freestyle. He finished 6th in the final of the 100m backstroke. He intends to continue his training and hopes to study fitness, personal training and massage therapy at TAFE and has set his sights firmly on winning gold for Australia at the Beijing Olympic Games 2008.
Travis Nederpelt (Class of 2003) – Swimming Finalist - 400m individual Medley Travis, 2002 and 2003 Australian Youth Swimmer of the Year, won seven gold medals at the 2003 Australian Youth Olympic Festival. In 2003 he was finalist in the 200m butterfly in 2003 World Championship team. He qualified for the 400m individual medley and set a new Australian Age record in the 200m butterfly at the 2004 Australian Olympic Selection Trials. He did very well in both heats at the Olympics. Stefan Szczurowski (Class of 1999) – Rowing Bronze Medallist – Men’s Eight (M8+) Stefan rowed for Trinity then he went on to WAIS representing his state in the Junior World Championships. Stefan and crew mate Neil Dennis carried the Olympic flag at the Closing Ceremony at Sydney 2000. Four years of hard work later Stefan and his team won the Bronze Medal for Australia. John Steffensen (Class of 1999) – Athletics Silver Medallist – 4 x 400m Relay Team After Trinity, John obtained a scholarship from WAIS. In Sydney 2002, he trained in the sprint squad. He was in the World Championships in 2003 and in 2004 he won a bronze medal at the Nationals. In Athens, he ran the first leg of the 4x400m relay which won the silver medal, the first Australian 4 x 400m relay win since the 1965 Olympics.
23
