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Matthew Renshaw

Renshaw2019a
Renshaw2019a Image: Wikimedia Commons. Blue Square Thing / CC BY-SA 4.0

Matthew Douglas Renshaw (born 31 October 1964) is an Australian former competitive swimmer who represented Australia during the 1980s and early 1990s. He is best remembered as a member of the celebrated Australian 4 × 100 m freestyle relay quartet of the 1980s, popularly known as the Mean Machine.

Key facts

Full name Matthew Douglas Renshaw
Date of birth 31 October 1964
Nationality Australian
Sport Swimming
Event Freestyle (relay)
School Barker College, Sydney
Club Carlile Swimming Club
Active era 1980s – early 1990s

Background

Renshaw completed his schooling at Barker College in Sydney. He trained with the Carlile Swimming Club, one of the well-known competitive swimming programmes in New South Wales, and developed into a sprint freestyle specialist who featured prominently in Australia's relay teams.

Career

During the 1980s, Renshaw was part of Australia's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay group nicknamed the Mean Machine, a quartet whose most prominent member was Neil Brooks.

1986 Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh

At the 1986 Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh, Renshaw and his teammates won the gold medal in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay, setting a Games record in the final.

1990 Commonwealth Games, Auckland

At the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, Renshaw earned a further Commonwealth Games gold medal, having swum in the heats of the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay event for the winning Australian team.

World Championships

Renshaw represented Australia at two editions of the World Aquatics Championships:

  • 1986 World Championships, Madrid
  • 1991 World Championships, Perth

Significance

Renshaw's career coincided with one of the strongest periods of Australian sprint freestyle relay swimming. As a member of the Mean Machine relay group, he contributed to Australia's continued international dominance in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay through the second half of the 1980s.

References