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The Otago Boys' High School Foundation
PO Box 11,
Dunedin, New Zealand
Tel +64 3 477 2546
Fax +64 3 477 5468
Matt Aitken (Year 12) has been named the top male athlete at the South Island Independence Games after playing a major role in the Otago’s team success.
Independence Day champion Matt Aitken (centre) celebrating Otago's success (from left) Bradley Caffell, Josh Weatherston, Amy Roxburgh and Shaun Markham. |
Matt won 10 gold medals - five in athletics and five in swimming at the championships in Christchurch. It was his fourth Independence Games and he displayed experience and maturity to help his younger team-mates perform at their best with Otago winning the team’s event for the first time.
The Independence Games are staged for children with intellectual and physical disabilities.
‘‘It was special for me to win the top male trophy and to help Otago win the teams event as well,’’ Matt said.
His gold medals came in the 100m (15.50sec), 200m (31.50sec), 600m (2min 08sec), shot put (9.16m), discus (22.19m), 25m freestyle (24.38sec), 25m backstroke (29.82sec), 25m breaststroke (35.31sec), 50m backstroke (1min 07sec) and 50m breaststroke (1min 27sec).
He is now the leading figure in sport for the disabled in Dunedin and is seen as a shining light in the two sports and Independence Games movement with his dedicated approach to training.
