Klotz hopes to break record at Deaflympics

Vista del Lago graduate Matt Klotz has won 22 swimming medals in the last three Deaflympics. This year he wants to go for the record and more, but first he's got to be able to get there. The 2025 Deaf Olympics will be held in November of this year in Tokyo, Japan, and he needs about $10,000 to cover the cost of travel, lodging, gear, race suits, training and coaching among other things. "USA gets zero funding, which makes it very difficult for many athletes to attend," said Klotz, a 2014 graduate of Vista del Lago. Klotz first attended the Deaf Olympics in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2013, and followed that up with trips to Samsun, Turkey in 2017 and Caxias Do Sul, Brazil in 2022. In those three competitions, Klotz has become one of the most successful swimmers in the Deaflympics, as he's earned 22 medals in those games. This year's games, if he can get there, will give Klotz an opportunity to break the record for most medals of an athlete of 33. "Terence Parkin of South Africa holds the record of 33 Deaflympics medals, who not only earned medals from swimming but also cycling in five Deaflympic Games," said Klotz, who also swam at Louisiana State University and graduated from there in 2020. "My goal is to break the record in just one sport in four Deaflympic Games, which would be Tokyo 2025." Of his 22 medals, 10 are golds to go along with four silver medals and eight bronze medals. "In Brazil in 2022, I broke the record for the most medals in a single Deaflympic Games at 14," Klotz said. His 22 medals consist of 10 gold medals: two in the 50 backstroke in 2017, 2022, three in the 100 backstroke (2013, 2017, 2022), two in the 200 backstroke (2013, 2017), one in the 50 freestyle (2022), and two in relays: 4x100 mixed medley (2022) and 4x100 mixed freestyle (2022). His four silver medals came in the 50 freestyle (2017), 100 freestyle (2022), 50 butterfly (2017) and in the 2002 backstroke (2020). His eight bronze medals came in the 50 butterfly (2022), 100 butterfly (2022), 50 breast stroke (2022), 100 breaststroke (2022), 400 Individual Medley (2013), and in three relays; the 4x200 men's freestyle (2022), 4x100 men's freestyle relay (2022), and the 4x100-men's medley relay (2022). So if he gets to the games, does Klotz think he can earn 12 medals to break the record? "It will definitely be a big challenge which I love, because it won't come easy and I'm very motivated to chase my goal," Klotz said. "I will need to get at least 11 medals at Tokyo to break it, but I want 12 so I can raise the bar even higher in medal count. I have my sprint events I'll be focusing on and relays that will play a huge factor in medaling. With the right training and support over the next few months, I know I can achieve this major historical accomplishment." Klotz plans on competing in 13 events, so that means he would have to earn medals in all but one event to break the record. He hopes to compete in the all the sprint events, most of the 100s as well as the relays. That would include the 50,100,200 backstroke, to 50, 100 butterfly, the 50 breaststroke, the 50, 100 freestyle, and five relays (two mixed and three men's). To break the record, Klotz first has to come up with the money to get to Tokyo. Anyone wanting to help Klotz financially can do so by going to gofundme.com and search "Matt Klotz." You can also donate a tax deductible gift to USA Deaf Swimming by going to mightycause.com and searching "US Deaf Swimmers." In the notes section, please write "in honor of Matt Klotz."