For a truer and more personal obituary than we could do justice, see this one written by Fiona Nijrich.
National-level swimmer Matthew Glucina from the City of Perth team in Western Australia has passed away on Tuesday, January 7th, after losing a battle with cancer. He was two weeks shy of his 29th birthday.
At his final competition, the 2012 Olympic Trials, a then 27-year old Glucina finished as high as 32nd in the men’s 200 fly in 2:07.86.
As a younger swimmer, Glucina was a frequent Olympic team contender and a multiple-time Nationals medalist. At the 2004 Olympic Trials, he took 7th in the 400 free, 3rd in the 800 free, and 6th in the 200 fly in 2:02.46.
The swimming, it seems, tells only half of the story of the generous Glucina. His personality in a microcosm can be seen in this c. 2009 newsletter from his City of Perth Swim Team. Glucina is one of the club’s best-ever swimmers, but not once is a result of his mentioned in that newsletter. Instead, he is mentioned three times, and in all three times it was a thanks for something he volunteered, from creating posters for the club to playing Santa Claus.
A funeral mass will be held at the Trinity College Chapel in East Perth Perth on Tuesday, January 14th at 9:30AM, with a burial service to follow at 11:15AM.
RIP Matthew Glucina.
Amen.