Following an event last month to present Para Table Tennis Paralympian Matthew Britz with his Paralympic number in recognition of his selection for the Paris 2024 Games, six-time Shooting Para Sport Paralympian Michael Johnson met with Matthew to share his personal insights and learnings with the rookie Paralympian.
A highly experienced Paralympic athlete, Michael was only too happy to take up the opportunity to meet with Matthew in what Nicola describes as a truly impactful exchange.
“Transitioning into the high performance environment can be both exciting and overwhelming,” says Nicola. “To help ease this transition, we invited Michael, as a highly accomplished and respected athlete, to share his experiences and guidance with Matthew on the behaviours and mindset that contribute to success – both on and off the ‘table’.”
For Michael, the opportunity to connect with 21-year-old Matthew quickly turned into a meeting of two like-minded athletes who, despite their different time on the high performance journey, had many similarities in their approach to elite level sport.
“I know how important it is for athletes to touch base with and learn from more experienced athletes, regardless of their sport,” says Michael. “What I was able to share with Matthew is my experiences over many years, how they matched or differed from his, what works and what doesn’t.
“We talked a lot about learning independence which can be challenging for someone like Matthew who has had such wonderful support from parents and friends. There was chat about the importance of finding your own way and the personal satisfaction gained from accomplishment.
“I think I was able to share with Matthew the notion that you don’t know what you don’t know. That you’re not alone on a journey and there’s always a way forward.”
Nicola says the power of cross-sport learning and storytelling cannot be overstated. “Opportunities like the one between Matthew and Michael, where an athlete is mentored by someone who not only understands their challenges but has also overcome them, is incredibly formative.
“Connecting a very experienced Paralympian with a new one is an important part of the growth and development curve of an elite athlete,” says Nicola.
“Michael’s contributions to Para sport have created a lasting legacy. And perhaps in the not so distant future it will be Matthew who sits down with a new generation of athletes, passing on the wisdom he has gained.”
