Former Felsted School student Matt Coward-Holley, age 26, has won bronze for Team GB at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Matt, who is reigning World and European shooting champion, is Felsted’s 21st Olympian and we are delighted that he has fulfilled his aim to secure a podium finish at this year’s Olympics.
Matt Coward-Holley, from Chelmsford, made his Olympic debut at the Asaka Shooting Range in the men’s Olympic trap shooting discipline. After a shaky start, making only seven of his opening 10 shots, he then responded with 14 in a row to get back on track, finally finishing on 33/40, a remarkable finish under massive pressure.
Matt comments; “I am a little bit lost for words – it’s my first Olympics so to come away with a medal, it’s phenomenal.”
The world and European champion, 26, was among Team GB’s gold medal hopes but paid the price for a slow start, missing three of his first 10 targets. He recovered with 14 successive hits to climb into medal contention. He missed out on a gold medal play-off by one shot to Czech shooter Jiri Liptak, who went on to defeat compatriot Kostelecky in a sudden-death shoot-off.
Matt will get another shot at gold on Saturday alongside Northern Ireland’s Kirsty Hegarty in the mixed team trap event, as the duo bid to follow up their World Cup win in Italy in May.
Matt took up trap shooting at 17, whilst still at Felsted School, but quickly rose through the ranks, competing for the England Shooting Team for the European, World and Home International Championships whilst he was in the Sixth Form. He began shooting at the age of 8, but at 12 gave up to focus on his promising Rugby career. However, a bad injury four years later resulted in Matt going back to the sport he was introduced to by his father. Felsted provided Matt a specifically tailored timetable so that he could fit his competitions in around his A-Level studies. He was also a member of the Felsted Shooting Team during his time at school, which has its own shooting range. In his last school report, his Felsted Housemaster at the time noted; “I look forward to him becoming a world champion shooter”, an aim he has fulfilled in addition to an Olympic medal!
Headmaster, Mr Chris Townsend comments; “We are delighted for Matt! We have been following his progress with great interest over the years and are delighted that his hard work and dedication has been recognised. We look forward to him returning to Felsted to inspire our pupils about his Olympic experience. Our last Olympic medal winner was over 30 years ago, when Robert Cattrall won Bronze as captain for GB hockey in 1984.”