The 26-year-old athlete, who had previously excelled in schoolboy rugby, turned to shooting after suffering two serious back injuries.
His bronze medal mirrored Ed Ling’s success from the Rio 2016 Olympics, showcasing his talent on an international stage.
Matthew began shooting at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground eight years prior, where his club members gathered to cheer him on from the clubhouse.
He became Felsted School’s first Olympic medal winner since Robert Cattrall in 1984.
After the event, the club tweeted: “Congratulations Matt Coward Holley on his Bronze in Tokyo. Awesome shooting.”
Matthew expressed his disbelief, stating: “To come away with a medal… it’s the Olympics and any medal is phenomenal.”
He scored 33 out of 40 targets, securing his place on the podium.
[From the Royston Crow of July 30, 2021]
AloJapan.com