Mark Reis/United States Olympic And Paralympic Committee
Matthew Torres swims in the U.S. Paralympics trials in June.
ANSONIA – Matthew Torres, a decorated American swimmer as both a U.S. Paralympics bronze medal winner and world record holder, is headed to Paris this month to compete in his second Paralympics Games.
The 23-year old Ansonia resident, who scored a bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in the 400m freestyle race, has his sights set on medaling once again in the City of Light.
Torres will compete with fellow Paralympians on Team USA when the 2024 Paralympic Summer Games get underway Aug. 28 — Sept.8 in the same venues as the 2024 Summer Olympics.
“The 400 meter is my primary and strongest event, and I have the stamina for it,” Torres told the Valley Indy during a recent phone interview. “I definitely want to medal contend in the 400 in Paris.”
Torres was born with amniotic band syndrome, missing half his right leg, with deformities on both hands and has some hearing loss. Despite his challenges, this 2023 Fairfield University graduate has never allowed his handicap to get in the way of his goals.
“I was always a fan of the water and as a little kid I splashed around in the pool quite a bit,” Torres said. “But I didn’t get serious about swimming until 2008 when I watched Michael Phelps at the Beijing Olympic summer games.”
Aspiring to be like Phelps, who holds 28 Olympic medals and remains the most decorated Olympian of all-time, was a tall order for Torres. He was only seven years old when he watched the G.O.A.T. score eight gold medals in Beijing and was simply mesmerized.
“I was really inspired by what Michael Phelps did and immediately started taking swimming lessons at the YMCA and joined a local swim team,” Torres said.
Torres had the chance to meet Phelps during a meet and greet in 2019 at a local university. In two words, Torres said the experience was “pretty awesome.”
Matt Reis
Torres meets Michael Phelps, his childhood idol, in 2019.
What His Coach Is Saying
Torres joined the Westport Weston Family YMCA at age 13 and has been a longtime member of their Water Rats team. His coach Ellen Johnston said she handled Torres with “kid gloves” when she first met him, since she was concerned about him slipping or not being able to communicate when he had his hearing aids out. But that quickly changed.
“He was with some of the other 13-year old boys – and you know how busy they can be – and when he and some of the other boys flooded the boys’ locker room at our old Y, the gloves were taken off,” Johnston said.
Johnston coached Torres until he entered college at Fairfield University, where he enjoyed a successful swimming career. He came back to Johnston last December full-time to help prepare him for the Paris games. He’s been training some 16 – 18 hours a week.
“We’re working to make sure he has the endurance and the speed,” Johnston said. “We’re working on breathing patterns, we’re working on tempo, we’re working on pace as well as maintaining his aerobic endurance and speed. He’s a very strong kicker and has a tremendous feel for the water.”
Johnston said watching Torres excel in the sport over the years has made her proud.
“As he hit high school, we just knew this was something he was striving for, being part of a national team and the Paralympics,” she said. “He has a great work ethic and is a great ambassador for the paralympic movement.”
Torres leaves for Paris Aug. 16 with his parents and grandmother. He’ll continue his training for two weeks before the actual games begin on Aug. 28.
To swim in the same pool and arena – the Paris La Defense Arena — where U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky just scored two more Olympic gold medals – is something Torres is excited about.
“I have my mind set and am focusing on my race plan,” Torres said. “When I’m in the pool, I’m very detailed and calculated, and very much thinking about what I’m doing at the moment. I tune out everything else around me.”
The Road To Paris
Torres said the road to qualifying for Paris almost didn’t happen. He was sidelined last year just three days before he was to compete in a world championship in England. He suffered from inflammation in his sternum and ribs and thought it was a heart condition. Fortunately, through medical care and time off from competition, Torres recovered from what doctors attributed to stress or overworking himself. He returned to the pool and got back to intensive training and ultimately made Team USA.
Torres’ parents Gil and Martha can’t wait to watch their son compete on a global level. They were unable to accompany their son to the Tokyo games, as spectators weren’t allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But they did watch remotely when he scored the bronze medal and are hopeful to see his Olympic dreams realized yet again.
“To say proud just isn’t enough, Matthew’s accomplishments are just absolutely amazing and he keeps me in awe all the time,” Gil Torres said. “He’s such a gifted and blessed athlete.”
Gil Torres said his son’s handicap has not hampered his goals.
“We raised him with the thought where the only handicap is the one he puts in his own mind,” he said. “He can achieve anything and everything he sets out to do. He learned early on there are no limitations.”
Martha Torres echoed similar sentiments.
“We are so proud of him and very thankful,” she said.
When asked about whether he’s going to score another medal, Martha Torres said “I think we’re going to see him up there on the podium.”
Torres said his parents have been his rocks and his role models his whole life.
“From the moment I told them I wanted to be like Michael Phelps, they were very supportive and always motivating me to go after my goals,” he said. “Even on days when I struggle, they keep me pushing me forward and always knew I could reach the goals I set out to achieve.”
A Hometown Boy
While he was born in Norwalk, and is of Columbian descent, Torres moved with his family to Ansonia when he was just two years old, and still calls Ansonia home to this day. He attended both Prendergast and Ansonia Middle schools. Having a champion swimmer living among the ranks makes Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti’s heart happy.
“I got to know Matthew a few years back and I’m very, very proud of him,” Cassetti said. “He’s a very due diligent type of guy and I always knew he would be successful regardless of his handicap.”
When he’s not swimming or competing, Torres works as a real estate agent for Century 21. In addition to his bronze medal from Tokyo, Torres is a world record holder in the 1500-meter freestyle at the 2021 U.S. Paralympics National Championships, earned several gold and bronze medals from various world and national swimming competitions and was named America’s most decorated swimmer in the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru.
What’s Next After Paris?
Torres’ competitions will continue in Europe after Paris.
He is the only male from U.S. Para Swimming who’ll participate in the Open Water Cup scheduled for Sept. 21 in Sardinia, Italy.
“From there, I’ll head home, take a little time off and see what’s next,” Torres said.
For more information about Torres, visit his Team USA profile.
