Matt Ward, 21, has been named as an ambassador for Healthy Hips Australia, which helps people affected by hip dysplasia.

Now living and training in Melbourne, Ward said the position involved raising awareness of the condition and showing what people affected could achieve.

“Being able to reach out to other people and being able to inspire them,” he said.

“Other people who have hip dysplasia, inspire them to be able to achieve great things as well.”

Also known as developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), hip dysplasia occurs when the ball and socket of the hip do not fit together in their normal position.

Ward was diagnosed with the condition in both hip joints when he was three days old, with his left hip completely dislocated.

Twelve months of complications and treatments followed before it was decided not to perform any further surgery in childhood owing to his malignant hyperpyrexia, which could cause an allergic reaction to anaesthetics.

“Then began our process of adjusting to normal life,” Ward said. “There weren’t many sports or activities I was able to do on a regular basis as I had trouble running, jumping and even standing for extended periods of time.”

At 12 he took up swimming as a multi-class competitor and a year later came home with two medals at his first age national titles.

He represented NSW at the schools nationals, serving as vice-captain one year, and the Pacific School Games and broke the open Australian record for the 50 metre breaststroke for his classification.

Ward now trains with the Melbourne Vicentre national squad and made two finals at the Olympic trials last year. He remains grateful for all opportunities and support he has received.

“Outside of the pool, I still have pain and trouble walking, and I’m still kept awake some nights because of it,” he said. “But in the pool, I can push past all that.

“Sometimes in life things just happen.

“I’ve swum with these amazing people, had the opportunity to train at such a high-level squad, been able to travel to many places all over Australia for competitions – and to be frank, I wouldn’t change a thing.”