Matthew Robinson (snowboarder)
A pioneering Australian Paralympic snowboarder whose tragic accident cut short a trailblazing athletic career.
1985–2014 (age 29)·Australian snowboarder·Birthday: October 24·Millennials
Biography
Matthew Robinson dedicated himself to the mountains, becoming a central figure in the drive to include snowboarding in the Paralympic Games. Competing in para-snowboard cross, he was a fierce competitor on the world stage, known for his speed and determination. His advocacy and performance helped build the sport's profile in the years leading up to its debut at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics. In a cruel twist of fate, he suffered severe injuries during a training run in Spain just weeks after those inaugural Games, passing away from complications. Robinson's legacy is dual-faceted: remembered for his athletic prowess and as a somber reminder of the risks athletes take in pursuit of their passion.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Matthew was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Died at 29
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
Key Achievements
- Was a leading competitor in para-snowboard cross on the World Cup circuit.
- His career helped pave the way for snowboarding's inclusion in the Paralympic programme.
- Ranked among the top para-snowboarders in the world prior to his accident.
Did You Know?
He was injured in a training accident at the La Molina resort in Spain in February 2014.
He passed away in a Melbourne hospital several weeks after the accident, in March 2014.
The sport of para-snowboard cross made its Paralympic debut at the 2014 Sochi Games, which concluded just before his accident.
“We fought to show the world that this sport belongs at the highest level.”
