Joe Townsend named 220 Male Para-triathlete of the Year

Joe Townsend named 220 Male Para-Triathlete of the Year

Joe Townsend, UK Para-triathlete and Matrix Ambassador, achieved a stunning Gold Medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, as Para-triathlon made its Games debut and in December was named the 220 Triathlon Male Para-triathlete of the Year.

Joe Townsend explains:

“It is the highlight of my career to date to have won the Gold Medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and then the icing on the cake to have finished an amazing season with podium finishes at every race. Since 2012, I have competed internationally 28 times for Great Britain and achieved 18 podium places.”

Looking ahead to 2019, I have the Paralympic qualifications for Tokyo 2020 and I’m in great form and looking forward to spending another year working closely with Matrix to be the best athlete I can be.”

Joe is a former Royal Marine Commando who lost both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan in 2008. In a truly inspiring turn, Joe took up hand cycling as part of his rehabilitation and discovered a new found passion that drove his training. Just three years after his accident, Joe competed in the Bolton Ironman UK triathlon, followed by the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii In 2012 where he finished second in the disability category. At London 2012, he carried the Paralympic Flame into the opening ceremony.

At the Invictus Games in 2014, Joe won four Gold Medals on the athletics track and had his first taste of the international circuit coming third at the European Championships in Eilat.

Having represented Great Britain at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Joe has since won European and World Medals, is now part of the 2019 World Class Performance Programme for British Triathlon and has his eyes set on qualifying for Tokyo 2020.

On his partnership with Matrix, Joe continues:

“Matrix have been with me since the beginning. In the early days of my career I was relatively unaccomplished on the international race circuit but Matrix believed in me and we formed an amazing partnership that has helped get me to where I am today.

They have continued to support me with equipment so that I can train from home, which has been so valuable when I am juggling the training of an elite athlete around family time, and funding that helps with my race equipment, travel and training. It’s with their continued support that I am able to push myself to the highest levels of my sport.”

Matt Pengelly, Matrix Fitness Managing Director adds:

“Joe has had an epic and inspiring journey to date. His drive, positivity and commitment is something to be admired. With an ingrained ability to train hard from his time as a Royal Marine, Joe has taken this discipline and channelled it despite adversity to become the incredible elite athlete he is today. Embodying all the qualities that we like to instil at Matrix, we’re excited to look forward to what Joe will achieve in 2019 and beyond.”

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Follow Joe’s amazing story here.