Matthews ‘peaking at the right time’ as European Para Table Tennis Championships begins 

The 31-year-old Welshman kicks off his Men’s individual class 1 event for Team GB against Greece this afternoon in good form after taking gold in June’s Czech Para Open. 

The triumph over fellow Welshman Rob Davies, his first over his compatriot, earning the Merthyr Tydfil born athlete singles gold for the first time since an event in Italy in 2018. 

It is safe to say though that it has been a long road for Matthews who found joy in Table Tennis after a biking accident in 2009 had left him with a broken neck.  

“I was a passionate downhill mountain biker. I wanted to go places with that and go professional. Sadly, I had an accident in 2009 which left me with a broken neck,” explained Matthews. 

“At the time I was in hospital and didn’t know which direction my life was going in. I was a naive 16-year-old boy and thought I would get back with a push bike. 

“This guy James Munkley used to come around the wards and tried to get everyone involved in sport, mostly table tennis. That’s about all you can do in hospital though really. 

“He kept pestering me and pestering me. I was adamant I wasn’t giving it a go; I really didn’t want to. In the end, I just gave in, and I fell in love with the sport really quickly. 

“There is a gap in my career between 2011 and 2013 where I was getting used to being in a wheelchair. I watched London 2012 then and I was inspired to give it another go. Ever since I have been locked into it really. 

“You have those little points in your life where you feel a little down and at one point, I was drinking quite a bit. Then came the turning point when I thought right, I have got to do something otherwise I am just going to end up in the gutter. 

“Sport brought me out of that dark place, and I really enjoy doing that. It has made me a really positive person again. It is kind of like achieving something again. Much like mountain biking, I wanted to achieve. 

“Jim [Munkley], who sadly isn’t with us, was a massive inspiration in my life. He worked for Disability Sports Wales in recruitment and went to hospitals. Without them, I would have struggled to go to tournaments. I owe them a massive thank you. 

A misfortunate event on an evening out with friends then denied Matthews the chance to compete in the 2016 Rio Paralympics after accidentally being injured by a hen party. 

‘You couldn’t make it up’, Matthews beamed showing the type of character he is despite all the adversity in his life still seeing the funny side of things looking back. 

“I had a mishap in 2016 where I fractured my femur. I was on a night out in Cardiff not even drinking. I had just had food in Jamie Oliver’s restaurant and there was a hen do passing by. I think they were Irish who wanted a picture with us being a bunch of Welsh lads,” continued Mathews. 

“The bride-to-be sat on my lap, and as she was getting up, she slipped on her high heels and still had hold of me. My leg went against my titanium chain and there was only going to be one winner. I never did find out who she was afterwards, and I missed Rio [Para Olympics] for that. 

“It was really disappointing, but also it made me stronger. I was only one place off going to Rio so it could have happened. I might not have. We’ll never know but it made me more determined to win the bronze medal in Tokyo [2020] so it was more of an achievement. 

With the 2023 Paris games on the horizon, Matthews wants to complete his journey and rise to the top of the pile as champion, starting with gold in this week’s European Championships. 

“You know as an athlete when to peak. You like to peak at the bigger games. I feel like I’m building towards that slowly,” enthused Matthews. 

“The smaller tournaments around the world there is merit in each and every one of them. It’s all an upward trajectory. That’s the big one though and hopefully, I can change the colour of my medal to gold this time. 

“As long as I peak at Sheffield for the European Table Tennis Championships, I can secure my seat for Paris.” 

(Lead image: Tom Matthews)