Matty Engesser achieving extraordinary goals
with Matt “ Duck Man ” Austin
I have spent a lifetime around sports . I ’ ve played with and against professional athletes and played school and club sports with Commonwealth Games athletes , Olympians , NRL premiership winners and world record holders .
But Matty Engesser is a vastly different guy . He is a very exceptionally talented high performing para-athlete who competes in the world of paratriathlon and is an exceptional young man with a great attitude and a huge work ethic .
When I first met Matty he was achieving amazing goals and was one of the high performing athletes in Western Sydney Academy of Sports ( WSAS ). He was working really hard to improve his performances on the bike , running and also working on his swim legs .
Matty has cerebral palsy and finds that the massive level of training he does helps him manage the pain and stiffness that comes with it . This year he has changed his coach , and Adam Radford has helped change up his training
Matty with his WSAS Athlete of the Year trophy and World Duathlon gold medal .
and perspective . Matty now treats events like a marathon as opposed to a sprint , and Adam has helped him aid his recovery and stop himself from burning out .
It ’ s been a memorable year with Matty winning the Western Sydney Academy of Sports Athlete of the Year for 2024 . At the awards night he said he is thankful for their ongoing continued support and providing him with a pathway and excellent coaching . Most of the athletes all help each other out and they are very team oriented .
In Townsville Matty raced in a duathlon prior to the Paris Olympics and finished first in the world against the best 30 para-triathletes in the world in his rookie event on the world stage . Most of the competitors were mid 20s through to their early 30s . A duathlon is a bike run , and it was Matty ’ s second international race . He is doing a 5km run in 17 mins with fresh legs and 19 mins after a 20km bike ride which he ’ s hoping to get down to 18 mins .
Paratriathlon is not for the faint hearted either , it ’ s a minor 250m swim , 20km bike ride and 5km run which
Matty is running in the low 60 min . The best in the world are completing the paratriathlon in sub 60 mins , which is really flying . He has qualifiers for the world sprint triathlon , which is a swim , bike and a run . Matty does a little jog for his warm up and activation drills and some bike activity for his events .
Matty is having a simple diet and keeps everything sensible focusing on the right level of iron and calcium so that he can recover better and also have enough energy . His ride takes him a bit under 30 mins to do 20km . His bike is carbon fibre and weighs about 7kg which is light , and he refers to it as his Ferrari . Matty is hoping to get up to Tour de France speeds of 40km average on the bike . He also spends a lot of time in the gym working on building core strength and upper body muscle .
Matty is still training seven days a week which he loves , but his focus is more on stamina , long term gains and performance including weight training , strength and conditioning . Matty works more on a mild style of training with a focus on heavy output on a shorter basis . He is also part of the Pursuit 2032 squad which was in four squad meetings . He is very motivated to potentially even consider the 2028 LA Olympics but is really focused on Brisbane 2032 . That is his big goal at this stage .
Matty with his racing bike at Sydney International Regatta Centre .
One of Matty ’ s mentors was Gordon Allan , who got a bronze in the Paris Olympics and gave him advice on how to focus and be successful when you face adversity . Matty has road cycling nationals in Perth this month , from January 8th to 13th .
With Matty ’ s continued progress and development , he is well on track to represent Australia in Brisbane for the 2032 Olympics .
Triumph for SHG Acro Gymnasts taking on Australia ’ s best
with Matt “ Duck Man ” Austin
The success at Sydney Hills Gymnastics ( SHG ) is extraordinary , and it is not limited to the boys . 2024 has been a remarkable year for the girls who have produced some of the best results ever for the club . This has seen several gymnasts represent the club in state , nationals and international championships . At this year ’ s Australian Gymnastics Championships , SHG acrobatic gymnasts showed their hard work , resilience and exceptional talent
The gymnasts faced challenges including ill health before and during nationals . Despite this , they gave their all on the competition floor , bringing home 25 medals and gaining invaluable experience and motivation ! The club had its largest team ever selected to represent NSW ; eleven of their acro gymnasts competed at the prestigious Australian event on the Gold Coast , with six athletes making their national debut .
Acro head coach , Jillian Connor , beamed with pride , stating , “ We have such an amazing group of athletes that all
SHG girls celebrating on the Gold Coast . Credit : Sydney Hills Gymnastics . support and care for each other deeply . It was great to see them bond even more and grow stronger as a team .”
Recognising the crucial role of support and teamwork in their outstanding achievements , Jillian reflected , “ Having our cheer squad in the stands , knowing your team is there to support you no matter what , was a key factor in our success .”
Several of the personal achievements of the club include Maliyah and Akasha who achieved a personal best score of 26.95 for their combined routine to secure them the title of Australian National Champions in the 12- 18 Junior International Women ’ s Pair competition . They earned gold medals for their balance and combined routines , and a silver for their dynamic routine .
The girls also represented the club and Australia at the World Championships in Portugal in September , their dedication to training shone through in their outstanding performance . The highly talented Level 11-16 Women ’ s Pair of Ivy and Elysse captivated the audience with their progress and artistry . Ivy and Elysse performed confidently , using great facial expressions to enhance their balance routine . In their national debut , they finished third overall . They earned bronze medals for their balance and dynamics . Their hard work and dedication throughout the year truly showed in their impressive performance .
Catie and Hana delivered a standout performance in their dynamic routine , displaying upgraded skills including a flawless double-back tuck . Their synchronised execution earned them a remarkable 2nd place overall in Senior Women ’ s . The girls won a trifecta of silver medals for their dynamic , balance and combined routines , demonstrating their exceptional talent and teamwork . Despite Hana ’ s recent ankle injury recovery , their long-term partnership experience allowed them to shine on the competition floor .
Mio and Karmah displayed enormous determination during their events . Despite Mio falling ill the day before the competition and the nerves of their firstever nationals , the girls fought bravely and gave their best on the floor . After an unfortunate fall during their balance routine , they quickly regained their composure and finished their competition strong in 8th overall in Level 7 !
Known for their ability to breathe life into their choreography through dance and standout artistry , Macie , Maeghan and Naomi did not disappoint in Level 7 at nationals . Their clean execution of skills
Akasha and Maliyah ready to take on the world . Credit : Sydney Hills Gymnastics .
earned their balance routine a score of 26.50 , taking out a well-deserved bronze medal and finishing in 5th overall .
Several gymnasts also achieved state titles in the NSW State Championships which has seen the club nominated for the following awards at the upcoming NSW Gymnastics Awards night in February , including Acrobatic Gymnastics Club of the Year , Acrobatic Gymnastics Levels Coaching Team of the Year , Acrobatic Gymnastics International Coaching Team of the Year . It has been an amazing year of achievements for the club .
Looking ahead , Coaches Jillian and Madie are feeling inspired ! They are excited about collaborating with Choreographers Celeste and Miss Helen , to help more gymnasts in training to achieve their dreams and goals .
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ISSUE 115 // JANUARY 2025 25