MATTHEW CHROSTOWSKI

1982 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

Matt Chrostowski was a product of Olneyville Boys’ Club in the 1930’s and he established himself as one of the greatest male swimmers ever in Rhode Island AAU competition.  He also starred for Central High School in interscholastic competition.  In 1933, while still in high school, Matt competed in a AAU meet at Harvard University.  He won three first place medals, smashing some Harvard pool records.  In 1934 Matt set two Interscholastic National records; the 50 yard freestyle record in 23.8 and the 100 yard freestyle in record time of 53.30 seconds.  Also, in 1934 Matt set a World Record with a time of 29.2 seconds in the 60 yard freestyle.  In the 1934 Brown Interscholastics, Matt set a record in the 50 yard free with a time of 24.00 breaking the record set in 1923.  In the same meet, Matt swam the anchor leg on the record setting relay team, competing for Central High School.  During the 1933-1934 AAU swimming seasons, Matt set records in the following events:  1933-Junior 50 free, Senior 100 Individual Medley, Senion 50 and 100 freestyle, Senior 1 mile swim, and in 1934-Senior 500 freestyle.  In 1934 Matt and John Higgins were invited, as members of an American team, to compete in Japan against the Japanese Olympic team.  That same year Matt set two World records in AAU competition in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events, doing a a 23.8 in the 50 freestyle and a 53.9 in the 100 freestyle.  He once competed in ten (10) events in an AAU meet, setting a record in 9 of the 10 events!  In June of 1934, Matt was invited to swim in the Polish Olympics in Warsaw, Poland.  He entered the meet, winning the 100 yard freestyle.  Matt died in 1967.