Photo Credit: Lucas Gillis
When Matthew Kathiravelu hit the sand after his jump in Boston, Massachusetts, last month, he didn’t just win gold, he rewrote history. The Kenner Collegiate student has had a breakout year in triple jump, stacking medals and breaking records with a discipline that’s propelled him from local tracks to an Ivy League future.
His relentless drive has carried him to heights few from Peterborough could imagine, proving that focus and quiet grit can redefine what’s possible. What he’s accomplished over the last year has been a masterclass in determination: winning gold in the triple jump at the OFSAA championships, gold at the New Balance Nationals Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston, and then two more gold medals at the Canadian Indoor Track & Field Championships in Toronto, one in triple jump and the other in long jump. With his collection of gold, Kathiravelu also made history along the way, setting new meet records at each competition.
The Peterborough native’s biggest moment came at the New Balance Nationals Indoor Track & Field Championships, an elite U.S. high school track meet featuring tough competition. After missing qualification in 2024, he returned with fire, delivering a record-breaking moment he says he’ll never forget.
Kathiravelu blends instinct with focus, scribbling his goals like a blueprint. Before the New Balance meet, he filled a notebook page with one mantra. He didn’t just aim to win; he set his sights on the exact distance needed to break the record.
Audio PlayerHis wins carry weight beyond himself. At Kenner, a school not long known for athletics, he’s helping rewrite the narrative, just like another Kenner athlete, Isaac Chandra, did as last year’s OFSAA 100-metre dash champion.
Audio PlayerTriple jump wasn’t his first love. A multi-sport athlete who helped Kenner’s basketball team to an OFSAA silver last year, he stumbled into the event almost by accident. Kathiravelu says that triple jump caught his eye because it seemed like an uncommon path that piqued his curiosity.
Audio PlayerBalancing school, sports, and life is a grind that requires focus and commitment, but Kathiravelu clearly has the drive and determination to make it all work.
Audio PlayerHe credits a strong support system for keeping him steady, paving the way for a track scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania, where he’ll join the Wharton School of Business, one of the world’s top business schools. He says he wouldn’t be in the position he’s in today if it weren’t for the amazing people in his life who have helped him along the way.
Audio PlayerWith gold medals, record-setting performances, and a scholarship secured at one of the world’s best schools, Kathiravelu has turned focus into results, proving that big dreams, backed by hard work, really do pay off.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
