Canada Games Legacy Series

Over the next few weeks, Swim Ontario is presenting the Canada Games Legacy Series, where we take a look back at swimmers who represented Team Ontario at past Canada Summer Games.

To some, he’s the face of the future.

Maybe so, but Gabriel (Gabe) Mastromatteo isn’t waiting.

Growing up swimming with sharks, the Kenora Swimming Sharks, Mastromatteo has already had a taste of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo – and as one for establishing values, he’s eager for more of the same.

Those who know swimming talent, and know it well, say the best is yet to come for Mastromatteo, one of Canada’s brightest male swimmers.

Hugely gifted, determined, and hungry for success, Mastromatteo has had the good fortune of learning from some superb coaches. Let’s start with two of the best in Byron Macdonald and Linda Kiefer, in charge of one of the most dominant post-secondary swim programs in Canada – the University of Toronto.

Also, a huge factor in his success, his mother Janet Hyslop. She’s been the backbone, having coached him from the start, and expounding on swimming goals that include striving for excellence.

When you get to know Mastromatteo, it’s clear that he’s a man on a mission. At times, impatient with his progress, he will one day be known for leaving a legacy of decency and integrity

“I’m a realist, but I always want to do better,” said the former Athlete of the Year at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Kenora. “As a swimmer, I fell in love with racing. I know that it’s great to do well in competition, but it’s even better to beat everyone else. That’s what I call, awesome.”

Ever since he was a toddler, Mastromatteo exhibited an interest in being near water. Likely, because he’d spend his summers enjoying the beautiful Lake of the Woods in northwestern Ontario. When the weather changed, swimming was at the Kenora Recreational Centre.

He claims it was at age 16, that swimming became a key part of his life. Goodbye went the hockey skates and ice, replaced fulltime by water and a bathing suit.

“I was more committed to swimming,” he said. “For me, there was more satisfaction, and I could see better things happening down the road.”

Others foresaw the greatness of Mastromatteo. He played a big role in making that possible with a superb performance at the 2017 Canada Summer Games, which took place that year close to home - in Winnipeg.

“It was an eye-opener, I remember it being lots of fun and, for me, the first time being in a team environment,” said Mastromatteo, who would finish the competition with four medals. “Knowing what I was capable of doing, and then accomplishing it to the best of my capability, was a huge confidence builder that I’ll never forget.”

Two weeks after being in the Canadian public eye, gaining notoriety and with a floodlight on his performance in water, Mastromatteo would again take a trip to the podium. He was on the receiving end of a gold medal, a key member of the 4 x 100-metres mixed medley relay team at the FINA World Junior championships in Indianapolis, Ind.

“The summer of 2017, oh yeah, it was a busy one for me,” he recalled. “It was also when I felt that urge to work harder, training was important as was coaching. It was all about doing better.”

Again, at the World Junior championships, this time in Hungary in 2019, Mastromatteo increased his medal collection with three more including an individual silver medal in the 50-metres breaststroke.

Looking back, it was in his high school graduating year, a time when the world was dealing with a pandemic, that Mastromatteo packed his bags and moved south.

At age 19, having been a Canadian champ in the breaststroke competition, the University of Toronto was going to be his academic home for the next few years. With much of the world in stalemate, he accepted no limitations. Wisely he thought, that getting an early start with training from superb coaching, would help in his ambitious eagerness to be among the elite.

With the breaststroke being his specialty, Mastromatteo - a tireless worker, and having made his share of sacrifices - focussed on establishing personal values and being involved inworld competition.

Mastromatteo is the benefactor of an upbeat personality, aware that life is full of simple pleasures and always understanding the importance of the moment.

“My individual performance in Tokyo was not what I had expected and being on a medley relay team that finished seventh showed me that there is still lots of work to be done,” said Mastromatteo, who trains six days a week and often as much as four hours a day.

”I was proud of the relay, showed up big for the team, especially after the more disappointing individual swim.

The focus again turns to the next Summer Olympics in Paris.

Returning to the days of his adolescent years, and the Canada Summer Games, Mastromatteo said it was an early start to his serious investment in time, effort, and commitment.

“I was younger, and (the Canada Summer Games) was big time for me - super important days of my swim life,” he said. “You realize where you are, and want to beat others. It was a major switch for me. I realized this was huge and the competitive drive just took over.

“With swimming, you look at the clock. There’s no debate. It’s a reflection of how well you can race, and how hard you worked.”

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 45+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.