Nick Matthew set to go out in blaze of glory
Gold coast, Dec. 18 (NsNewsWire) —
Backstage at the Manchester Central Convention Complex – host to the PSA World Championships 2017 – English athlete Nick Matthew OBE is reflecting on a soon-to-be-closing career.
His haul is impressive, comprising title wins in the World Games (2009, singles), three Commonwealth Games gold medals (2010 singles & doubles; 2014 singles) and three World Opens (2010, 2011, 2013), the last of which saw Matthew in a slightly less sober state than he is today. “I went onto BBC Breakfast the next day and was probably still drunk,” he says. “I then had to sign 1,000 copies of my autobiography with a hangover. Fun memories.”
With his 2017 World Championships ending with a quarter final defeat against Egypt’s Mohamed El Shorbagy, 3-1, Matthew has shifted his focus onto the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. The plan: one final charge at medal success in the singles competition before his retirement at the age of 37, “to do normal stuff, like spending time with my family, and having a curry with mates and not feeling guilty.” Matthew is aware that a gruelling schedule lies in wait.
“The two goals this season were the World Championships at home and the Commonwealth Games,” he says. “OK, I didn’t win here but I got myself in probably the best shape I’ve been in this year.
“The schedule worked out quite well, this was the last event before Christmas so I could have a nice build-up with the preparation in the first half of the season. The Commonwealth Games are in April so there’s enough of a gap for me to do the same again.
“The first thing is to have a little break over Christmas, to recharge the batteries. Then from the back end of December and January I’ll be building up to April.
“It’s hard to sustain a peak, so I’ll have to come down from it and allow myself to feel rubbish for a couple of weeks where I’ll go through a bit of a training block and then really plan and get my schedule right. If I get myself into this sort of form and shape I’ll have half a chance.”
Matthew has a longstanding union with the Commonwealth Games. In 2010, his gold medals in both the singles and doubles stands as a career highlight. “I’ve really enjoyed the doubles with my partner, Adrian Grant,” he says. “Adrian has been one of my best mates since I was nine years old, we’ve roomed together all over the world. It was fun sharing that with him.”
Nick Matthew has done it all in Squash, but is looking for one more Commonwealth Games gold medal. Source: Press Release