Taekwondo gold for former Tasker Millward pupil Matt Bush
Forced to withdraw from the Tokyo Paralympics as a result of an injury, Matt Bush returned to the 2024 Paralympian platform to ensure he would secure the gold.
And the former pupil of Tasker Millward School, Haverfordwest, scooped the ultimate taekwondo accolade in dramatic fashion after beating Neutral Paralympic athlete Aliaskhab Ramazanov 5-0 in the men's K44 and 80kg final.
"I'd fought him before and he's a very good fighter," said Matt. "I had to be on it and that comes back to building a game plan. It was tough, it was hard, but I had to fight."
Born on December 22, 1988, Matt, who grew up in St Clears and who does not have a left hand nor a forearm, is already a twice champion at the World Para Taekwondo Championships.
Prior to his taekwondo career, the 35-year-old was a javelin thrower and was set to make his Paralympic debut in 2016. But he was forced to pull out when a shoulder injury prevented him from competing.
He switched to taekwondo, and in the 2019 World Championships he won the gold medal to become Britain's first para world champion while in 2023 he won the silver medal at the European Para Championships. Once again the same year, at the World Championships, he won his second gold medal.
Taekwondo gold for former Tasker Millward pupil Matt Bush
Forced to withdraw from the Tokyo Paralympics as a result of an injury, Matt Bush returned to the 2024 Paralympian platform to ensure he would secure the gold.
And the former pupil of Tasker Millward School, Haverfordwest, scooped the ultimate taekwondo accolade in dramatic fashion after beating Neutral Paralympic athlete Aliaskhab Ramazanov 5-0 in the men's K44 and 80kg final.
"I'd fought him before and he's a very good fighter," said Matt. "I had to be on it and that comes back to building a game plan. It was tough, it was hard, but I had to fight."
Born on December 22, 1988, Matt, who grew up in St Clears and who does not have a left hand nor a forearm, is already a twice champion at the World Para Taekwondo Championships.
Prior to his taekwondo career, the 35-year-old was a javelin thrower and was set to make his Paralympic debut in 2016. But he was forced to pull out when a shoulder injury prevented him from competing.
He switched to taekwondo, and in the 2019 World Championships he won the gold medal to become Britain's first para world champion while in 2023 he won the silver medal at the European Para Championships. Once again the same year, at the World Championships, he won his second gold medal.