Vaughan's Matt Cabraja heads to Tokyo Paralympics as Canada’s fastest blind swimmer

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 9, 2021

The York Catholic District School Board has sent its wishes to former student Matt Cabraja, who is part of the 19-member Canadian Paralympic swimming team.

Cabraja, who owns the distinction of being Canada’s fastest blind swimmer, is an honours graduate of St. Jean de Brebeuf CHS and had also attended St. Stephen CES, both in Woodbridge.

“This past year, he was a student at the University of Toronto where he completed his first-year of his math and physical science program,” YCDSB said in a news release.

“For most of his swimming career, Matt has trained at the COBRA Swim Club in Brampton. This year he joined the Blues and trained at the university’s varsity pool. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Matt returned once again to COBRA Swim Club to continue his training.”

This isn’t the first time Cabraja has competed for Canada.

“Matt previously represented Canada internationally at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London and earned two medals at the 2018 Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships in Cairns,” YCDSB added.

Cabraja lost his sight at the age of nine, after unsuccessful surgery to correct a detached retina and cataracts rendered him completely blind. His visual impairment places him in the S11 class of para-swimmers in competition.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are set to get underway on Aug. 24.