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MATT BUSH

DATE OF BIRTH
December 22 1988

WEIGHT
75kg+

CAREER HIGH
Gold at the 2019 Para Taekwondo World Championships

CAREER RESULTS

2021 European Qualification Tournament
Gold

2019 Korean Open
Bronze

2019 Oceania Para Taekwondo Championships
Bronze

2019 World Para Taekwondo Championships
Gold

2018 Pan America Para Taekwondo Open
Bronze

ABOUT MATT

With Para Taekwondo making its big debut at the Paralympics in Tokyo, Bush seized the opportunity to make the switch to the sport in 2017.

Welsh fighter Bush is best known for becoming GB Taekwondo’s first ever Para male World Champion, and has also medalled at the Oceania Para Taekwondo Championships as well as the Pan America Para Taekwondo Open.

A keen sports lover, he has previously tried Japanese and Brazillian Jujitsu along with Javelin and Shotput.

In 2021, Bush qualified a quota place for GB at the Paralympic Games in the K44 +75kg weight division.


60 SECOND INTERVIEW

WHEN DID YOU START TAEKWONDO AND WHY:

I started martial arts at 18 and did Japanese JuJitsu initially because I had an interest in the UFC/MMA and wanted to find something close to that. I quickly realised I was more interested in the grappling side of it instead, so as soon as a Brazillian JuJitsu club opened I signed up to that.

As for Taekwondo itself, I was doing Javelin at the time and had an injury that ruled me out of qualifying for the Rio Olympics in 2016. Through Sport Wales, I heard that Taekwondo was going to join the Paralympic movement and because it was similar to the other martial arts I had done, they brought me up for a trial and GB Taekwondo were on-board, so it all took off from there really.

OTHER SPORTS PLAYED:

Football at club/county level and Swansea City for a little bit. I also played Rugby at club/county level. I played everything as a kid…Tennis at a fairly decent level. Javelin for a bit until I got injured and Shotput which I’m pursuing as well as, Taekwondo. 

AMBITION:
To become Paralympic Champion.

ROLE MODEL/FAVOURITE OTHER SPORTSMAN OR WOMAN:

It’d be more mixed martial arts guys like the Diaz brothers, Mark Hunt and Chuck Lidel, people like that.

The Diaz brothers because they didn’t really play the game, they weren’t there for the fans or the money – they’re there because that’s what they are…they’re real, you know.

WHY SHOULD THE PUBLIC WATCH TAEKWONDO IN YOUR OPINION:
I’d say it’s a dynamic martial art and is quite flashy.

IF SOMEONE GAVE YOU £1 MILLION, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT:

I’d rent a house on Lake Como only for a month and come up with a master plan of what I’d do with the money.

SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT MATT BUSH:
I went camping in Africa for a month and have previously worked in a chocolate factory.


CONNECT WITH MATT BUSH:

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