Athlete of the Month - Matthieu Maury

11 Oct 2021

We met with Matthieu Maury, one of Hong Kong’s best open water swimmers. Despite his generous silhouette, Matthieu is a fierce competitor who has won several races in Hong Kong in open water swimming and Swimrun competitions. Matthieu is ranked as one of Hong Kong’s very best Swimrun athletes, if not the best. Although he only started running recently, nobody has won more Swimrun races in Hong Kong than Matthieu!

When did you start competing?
“I started competing when I was 14 years old. I have always been swimming but came late to the competing side. I was juggling between different sports and skiing (slalom) was my main competitive sport at the time.”

What are your favourite events?
“As a teenager it was 100-200m freestyle events. Today, the most exciting one would be a 5km open water race where you have time to enjoy the race, competing side by side with your friends and drafting as much as possible to save energy until the final 100m sprint.”

What are your greatest accomplishments?
“Nicolas Gontard and I have been jumping as a team into a sport called Swimrun, where you have to run and swim through trails and rough open water sections for 40km total. We did some races in Europe and hopefully can do the World Championships within the next 2 years. Solo, I succeeded to finish a 100km trail race in Hong Kong and more recently came 1st overall at the D'Ag Dash, a 5km open water 5km race
in Hong Kong.”

NB: Matthieu also finished 2nd in the age group 20-39 at the McBean Middle Island Race in July.

How you found the HKFC swim team?
“When I came to Hong Kong, I decided to join an open water group and start back swimming after a 6-year gap. By doing training and races, I rapidly met HKFC members and was lucky to be part of the team.”

When did you join?
“I joined in 2017. Right before the olympians wave of new members (Olympic swimmers and runners). It is amazing to acknowledge their speed and technique.”

Matthieu's Favourites

Favourite place to swim in HK?
"Around middle island. Choppy, nice currents and a feeling of speed when you swim within the Chanel on the way back to Repulse Bay."

Post race treat?
"Coffee and pain au Chocolat at Frenchies Bakery and Coffee in Central SOHO. Pass by to say hi!"

Most exciting race?
"Clean Half. 12km from Stanley Back beach to Deep Water Bay. You got time to think!"

Favourite HKFC meal?
"Chocolate Brownie and ice-cream"