Robert Matthews

Background

Matthews was born in Kent. He was born with the degenerative eye condition retinitis pigmentosa which he inherited from his father.

Education

From age 13 he attended a school for the partially sighted and went on to study at a college for the blind.

Career

He retired in 2004 but is due to return at the 2012 Summer Paralympics as a cyclist representing New Zealand. He has been referred to as an "iconic athlete" of the Paralympic Games. Matthews first competed at the Paralympics in 1984 at the Stoke Mandeville/New York Games.

He started off in the B1 class middle and long distance events, winning gold in all three disciplines: the 800 m, 800 m, 1,500 m, and 5,000 m.

Four years later, at the Games in Seoul, he retained all three titles. This brought his medal tally to 13, eight of which are golds.

In his career Matthews has broken 22 world records. In 1986 he became the first blind runner to run the 800 m in under two minutes.

He is listed as one of eight "iconic athletes" in the London 2012 Guide to the Paralympic Games.

He began to concentrate on a new sport and is hoping to compete in blind cycling events at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, this time representing New Zealand.

Achievements

• He is a former British Paralympian who won eight gold medals across seven Paralympic Games. He again won the 5,000 m in 1992, and finished with a silver in the 800 m and bronze in the 1,500 m. Matthews retired from (track and field) athletics after failing to win a medal at the 2004 Games in Athens.