Pulling Together for Mathew Szymanowski
Mathew Szymanowski, affectionately known as Shim, has invested countless hours
over the last eight years to become an elite rower. He began as a top sculler
competing with the Cambridge Rowing Club in Kitchener, ON where he earned a
Bronze in the Junior 1x at the 2012 CSSRA Championships.
His talent and dedication earned him a scholarship to Ridley College in
St. Catharines, ON in 2013-14, where he stroked the Senior Men's 4x and 4+. They
won Gold in both events at the 2014 CSSRA Championships after winning the
Stotesbury Cup in the 4x and the US Schoolboy Championships in the 4+ a few
weeks earlier. Soon after he stroked the Ridley 4x to the semi-finals of the Fawley
Cup event at the 2014 Henley Regatta in England.
These standout performances got him recognized by the best university programs
in Canada, including the University of Victoria, where he chose to continue his
rowing career. He spent the next five years in Victoria competing for the Vikes while
tackling an engineering program. Mathew managed to win two Canadian University
Championship titles, in 2016 with the 8+ and in 2017 with the 2-. In that same year,
he pulled a sub-six minute 2000m ergometer test (5:59.5) - a feat only five Vikes
athletes have accomplished!
Mathew's continued hard work and perseverance allowed him an opportunity to
train on the National Team the following year and then represent Canada at the
2018 Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland where he was
3 seat of the BM4x.
Mathew was in a serious bike accident in Victoria, BC on August 13, 2019 and
airlifted to the ICU at Vancouver General Hospital. He suffered a very serious
spinal injury.
Mathew is a remarkable athlete. Just as important, he is a kind and gentle soul.
The financial burden on the family is expected to be significant. This campaign will
help with current and future medical and travel expenses for Mathew and his family.
Mathew's father, Miroslaw Szymanowski, continues to provide updates about his
progress.