Matt Shirvington

Matt Shirvington
Shirvington in 2013
Personal information
Nickname(s)
Shirvo, The Package
Born (1978-10-25) 25 October 1978
Spouse
Jessica Shirvington
Sport
Country Australia
SportMen's athletics
Events
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals
World finals2001 Edmonton: 4 × 100 mBronze
National finals
Commonwealth finals1998 Kuala Lumpur: Men's 100 m – Finalist
Personal best10.03 seconds (1998 CG: Kuala Lumpur): Men's 100 m
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Australia
World Championships
2001 Edmonton 4 x 100 m relay
Commonwealth Games
1998 Kuala Lumpur 4 x 100 m relay

Matt Shirvington (born 25 October 1978) is an Australian former athlete and television presenter who held the Australian 100 m national sprint title from 1998 to 2002. Shirvington is the third-fastest Australian sprinter of all time. He qualified for the 100 m semi-finals in Sydney 2000, finishing 5th.[1]

Shirvington is currently co-host of the Seven Network's breakfast television program Sunrise alongside Natalie Barr.[2]

Athletics

Shirvington generally competed in the 100 m, 200 m and 4 × 100 m relay events, finding the most success in the 100 m sprint. He competed in the 2000 Olympic Games, the Athletics World Championships from 1999 to 2007 and the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and 2006.[3][4]

From 1998 Shirvington claimed five consecutive Australian national titles for the 100 m sprint event. At the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, he broke the Australian national 100 m record, finishing fourth in the final with a time of 10.03 seconds. Shirvington held the record until Patrick Johnson recorded 9.93 seconds in 2003.[5] He also featured in two World Indoor Championships 60 m finals.

Television

Seven Network

In 2004, Shirvington was a contestant in the first series of Dancing with the Stars and in 2005 was a presenter and reporter on Beyond Tomorrow.

In July 2020, Shirvington joined the Seven Network as weekend sport presenter on Seven News Sydney, replacing Jim Wilson.[6] He also was a fill-in host and sports presenter on Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and The Morning Show.

On 1 February 2021, Shirvington started hosting the competition series Holey Moley, and on 7 March 2021 he started hosting the competition series Ultimate Tag.

In January 2022, Seven Network announced that Shirvington will join as a host on Sydney Weekender, replacing the long-running host Mike Whitney.[7]

In July 2022, Shirvington was part of the commentary team for the network's coverage of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[8]

In June 2023, the Seven Network announced that Shirvington will permanently replace David Koch as the co-host of Sunrise, having filled in for him regularly on Fridays in recent months.[9] He commenced on Monday 12 June.

Sky News Australia and Foxtel

In June 2010, Shirvington joined Sky News Australia as a sports presenter. In 2013, Shirvington was announced as the new host of the Fox Sports NRL coverage and joined The Back Page as a co-host. In 2014, he co-hosted the ASTRA Awards with Shaynna Blaze. Shirvington has previously been the host of Friday Night Football on Fox League.

Other

In 2009, Shirvington had a cameo and one line in the third episode of :30 Seconds.

Shirvington appeared in a guest role on the Australian version of The Biggest Loser in 2010.

In 2024, he made a cameo in Home and Away.

St George Illawarra Dragons

In the 2012 NRL pre-season, Shirvington was appointed a sprint training coach for the St George Illawarra Dragons despite being a fan of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

In the 2016 NRL pre-season, Shirvington signed up as a Sea Eagles member and recorded a video message encouraging other Manly supporters to either renew their membership or to sign up. Shirvington also regularly promotes the Sea Eagles via social media.[10]

Cronulla Sharks

In February 2026, Shirvington announced that he had joined the Cronulla Sharks in a speed coaching role for the 2026 NRL season.[11][12]

Personal life

Raised in Davidson, a suburb of Sydney, Shirvington has also lived in London.[3][13] He attended St Martin de Porres Catholic Primary School in Davidson. He has also been a National Ambassador for Canteen, an Australian support organisation for young children living with cancer.[14]

Shirvington is married to author Jessica Shirvington.[15] They have two daughters and a son.[13] They live in Mosman, New South Wales.[16]

References

  1. ^ Salvado, John (17 February 2018). "Trae Williams: Quadzilla sprinter nails stunning 10.10sec 100m to win national title". news.com.au. AAP. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Matt Shirvington joins as new Sunrise co-host | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Athlete Profiles – Matt Shirvington". Athletics Australia. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  4. ^ "Aussies slip up as Powell powers Jamaica to gold". ABC News. Australia. 25 March 2006. Archived from the original on 18 April 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2007.
  5. ^ Magnay, Jacquelin (6 May 2006). "9.93: Johnson dashes into history". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 January 2007.
  6. ^ "Channel Seven welcomes Olympian Matt Shirvington to the team". 7NEWS.com.au. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  7. ^ Welch, Kalila (28 January 2022). "Mike Whitney departs Sydney Weekender after 27 years". Mumbrella. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  8. ^ Knox, David (8 June 2022). "Seven confirms Commonwealth Games 2022 commentary team". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Matt Shirvington announced as Kochie replacement on Sunrise". Seven News. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Shirvo pledges his support to Manly". Sea Eagles News. National Rugby League. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Sprint king Shirvo joins Sharks as speed coach". Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Fans buzz as Shirvo joins famous club in 'unexpected' footy role". 7NEWS. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  13. ^ a b "Matt Shirvington: Biography". Guest keynote and event speaker. ICMI. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  14. ^ "National Ambassadors – Matt Shirvington". CanTeen. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2007.
  15. ^ Idato, Michael (19 September 2012). "Twilight take two: Spielberg embraces Australian author". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. ^ Macken, Lucy (24 June 2017). "Olympian Matt Shirvington makes a speedy $7.5 million purchase of a Mosman house". The Sydney Morning Herald: Domain. Retrieved 19 February 2018.