Felstedian Matt Selected For Tokyo Olympic Games

Former Felsted School student Matt Coward-Holley, age 26, has been named as one of the first four shooters selected to Team GB for the Tokyo Olympic Games later this year.

Coward-Holley will make his Olympic debut at the Asaka Shooting Range in the men’s Olympic trap shooting discipline. After winning gold in Olympic trap shooting at the ISSF World Championships in 2019, Coward-Holley became Great Britain’s first ever world champion in this event.

Ranked world number two in Olympic trap, Coward-Holley from Chelmsford in Essex is one of only two British shooters to have medalled in this discipline at a World Championship.
 


Mark England, Team GB Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020, said: “There is no greater experience than going to your first Olympic Games and I’d like to congratulate this talented group of athletes on their selection to Team GB for Tokyo 2020.”

Matt comments; “Thank you so much to all my friends, family, sponsors and to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey to the games.”

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.

Headmaster, Mr Chris Townsend comments; “We are delighted for Matt who will become Felsted’s 21st Olympian! We have been following his progress with great interest over the years and are delighted that his hard work and dedication has been recognised.”