Tom Matthews

Table Tennis

Region

Aberdare
Date of Birth

18/08/1992
Classification

Class 1 singles, class 4 doubles, class 7 doubles

Tom was a promising mountain biker when, aged 16, he had a fall while out riding with his uncle and a friend.

While undergoing rehab in Rookwood Hospital he was encouraged to try table tennis by Jim Munkley from Disability Sport Wales. Initially not that keen, when he did finally decide to give the sport a try he was immediately won over.

Although he initially trained with the Welsh squad after leaving hospital, Tom then turned his back on the sport, a decision that he still feels was right for him. In late 2012 he got back in touch with Munkley and started training again.

Tom won his first major medals at the European Championships in 2015, taking bronze in the men’s class 1 singles and gold in the team event. Having missed out on qualification for Rio due to a broken leg he returned to win the US Open and in 2017 he partnered fellow Welshman Paul Davies to win bronze in the World Team Championships in Slovakia. In October he was part of an historic one-two-three for GB in the men’s class 1 singles at the European Championships, losing to Paralympic champion Rob Davies in the final.

Tom won bronze in the World Championships in 2018 but was hampered by a shoulder injury in 2019 and struggled to find his best form. The postponement of the Paralympic Games in 2020 gave Tom the opportunity to regain full fitness and he played superbly in Tokyo, securing a bronze medal in the men’s class 1 singles on his Paralympic debut.

Career Highlights

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Men’s Singles (Class 1): Bronze

2018: World Championships, Slovenia – bronze, men’s singles (class 1)

Lignano Master Open, Italy – gold, men’s singles (class 1); silver, men’s teams (class 1)

2017: European Championships, Lasko, Slovenia – silver, men’s singles (class 1)

Bayreuth Open, Germany – gold, men’s teams (class 1)

World Team Championships, Slovakia – bronze, men’s class 1

2016: US Open - gold, men’s singles (class 1)

2015: Copa Costa Rica - silver, men’s singles (class 1); silver, men’s teams (class 1)

European Championships, Vejle, Denmark - gold, men’s teams (class 1); bronze, men’s singles (class 1)

Bayreuth Open, Germany - gold, men’s teams (class 1); bronze, men’s singles (class 1)

2013: US Open, San Diego - silver, men’s singles (class 1)

Sign up to our email list to get updates on the team and the inside track on our sporting heroes – We're building a movement, with your support, to break down barriers for disabled people across the UK.

First Name

Last Name

Email address

I am over 18 and would like to receive emails about news, fundraising and how I can get involved with ParalympicsGB