In the swim
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Matt Jensen is 26 years old and has Down syndrome. Despite his disability Matt is an accomplished athlete who has competed in three international swim meets, the most recent of which was the fourth biannual Down Syndrome International Swimming Organization (DSISO) world championships in Albufeira, Portugal.
During the four-day meet that took place Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, Matt swam on the United States team in relay races and in individual events for backstroke, freestyle and his favorite stoke, butterfly. Because of a dislocated kneecap he suffered in Special Olympics basketball that didn't fully heal by the time of the swim meet, Matt was slower than usual in making his turns at the end of each lap. As a result, his highest finish in Portugal was fourth place in one of the relays.
"I didn't get any medals," Matt recounts. "But I got a certificate!"
Becoming accustomed to swimming initially required significant effort on Matt's part. However, since he began feeling at home in the water there's been no looking back.
"It took Matt years to learn to swim," said Tammy Jensen, Matt's mom. "It wasn't until he was 12 that he began swimming, but after he did he was really good."
A member of the Salt Lake Bonneville Stake and the youngest of five children, Matt attends the Pioneer Region Special Needs Mutual every Thursday night.
"Matt Jensen is very sweet and thoughtful," said Karen Hammer, who knows Matt from her calling as the Young Women president of the Pioneer Region Special Needs Mutual. "He's really a driven little swimmer. He practices his swimming every day. He went to East High School, and actually attended a regular University singles ward for a long time."
He spends an hour each weekday throughout the year in the pool honing his craft. And, depending on the time of year, Matt may also be participating in other physical activities such as track and field, soccer and his favorite sport, basketball. All that exercise keeps him lean and strong — something that's a real challenge for many adult-aged people with Down syndrome.
"Matt's in better shape than anyone else in the family," Sister Jensen quips.
Before Portugal, Matt swam abroad in DSISO events in England and Ireland. According to Sister Jensen, the international landscape for swimmers with Down syndrome has grown significantly over the past few years.
"It's a very interesting thing," she said. "First, it was just sort of thrown together, but now it's run like a regular swim meet."
