Matt Britz will proudly become the first New Zealander to represent his country at a Paralympic Games in the sport of Para table tennis for 48 years at Paris 2024. We chat to the rising talent about his sporting journey so far and his ambitions in the French capital.
As far as nicknames go, Matt Britz is more than happy with his moniker as ‘The Silent Assassin’.
Possessing a quiet demeanour and with an impassive on-court look, it is a nickname the gifted 20-year-old Para table tennis talent feels perfectly suits his style of play.
“When I compete, I like to do so with a stone-cold look on my face,” explains Matt. “I try my best not to show emotions when I play. I typically make it like a staring contest to intimidate my opponent and get into the zone.”
Spending a couple of hours with Matt at Manurewa Table Tennis Club, it is a little hard to believe how the 20-year-old could intimidate anyone. Mild-mannered, articulate and polite, you could not wish to meet a nicer guy, but niceness should not be taken for softness, and he possesses a steely edge which will serve him well at Paris 2024.
Born with the health condition Bailey-Bloch congenital myopathy – which causes impaired muscle power, leg length difference and short stature – Matt has never let his disability define his ambitions.
Moving from South Africa with his family to live in New Plymouth at the age of three he grew up wanting to be an All Black and he played a variety of team codes. Yet while his disability did restrict his ability to excel in contact sports, it was only after taking up table tennis at the age of eight did the door open to a new world of opportunities.
“I first played table tennis in the garage before I joined the New Plymouth Table Tennis club,” he says. “I found out I was good at hitting the ball over the other side of the net – and finding out that’s what I needed to do to win has never really left me. Since that very first time playing the game, I have always wanted to progress and get better.”
Initially starting out on the lowest ranked table, Matt began playing a non-disabled player aged in his 70s. Regularly defeated by his septuagenarian rival he did not find the experience dispiriting, instead he persevered until he finally beat his more senior rival which allowed him to advance to the next table.
“He was old but because he was an able-bodied player, when I first defeated him it made me think I can be good at this,” he adds.
Gradually improving by playing against non-disabled players, it was only after playing at a North Island tournament aged “12 or 13” did he meet John Tuki, the National Para coach at Table Tennis NZ, who first made Matt aware of the Para side of the sport.
He invited Matt to compete at Para nationals and so formed a long-standing coach-athlete relationship between the pair. A former bodybuilder, Auckland-based John was inspired to coach Para table tennis through his mum, a wheelchair-user, who contracted polio.
And there is little doubting the influence of the charismatic coach of Matt. “He’s quite the inspiration and has helped me believe I can be the best that I can be,” he adds. “Whether it is becoming New Zealand champion or playing internationally he has always been a positive influence. He has a strong mentality and has always taught me not to fear the opposition.”
Training four hours of table tennis each day interspersed with regular gym sessions, Matt has shown an iron-will be to be the best. He relocated to Pennsylvania in 2019 after his father took up a job there, but in 2022 he returned to New Zealand to study sport and recreation and continue to be coached by John.
Dividing his time between the US – his parents are now based in Texas – and Auckland, he has continued to progress his game. Possessing a strong backhand “my favourite shot” he nonetheless believes his biggest asset is his tactical acumen.
“I train for table tennis like it is a chess match,” explains Matt. “I want to say that 70 or 80 percent of the game is tactical. I don’t like the big rallies, I tend to like rallies to be three to five shots maximum, so in those moments it is very important to know what your best shots are to make those key plays.”
His breakthough moment arrived last year at the 2023 Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships in the Solomon Islands. In Honiara he claimed some big scalps to win the Class 7 Men’s Singles and in so doing qualified a spot for Paris 2024.
Describing his victory as affirmation of his ability to challenge the best, when he received confirmation of his selection for the New Zealand Paralympic Team for Paris 2024 – it was a huge moment.
“It was nothing short of pure joy,” he says. “It was always a dream of mine to represent New Zealand, so to get the opportunity to wear the silver fern and compete in Paris alongside my coach who has been supportive, is not only exciting but very motivating.”
Competing in an elimination format in Paris, Matt understands what is on the line when he takes to the court for his Men’s Singles Class 7 game for his round of 16 match on Monday 2 September at the South Paris Arena.
So what does he want to achieve in the French capital?
“Two things; I want to win, that will always be my mindset, and the other one is to go out and do my best.”
His future goals include playing at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games yet whatever happens in the future the sport of Para table tennis has been of incalculable benefit to Matt.
“When I was younger and played rugby and soccer, I had kids telling me I couldn’t play because I wasn’t fast enough or tough enough, but table tennis opened a door to show me that I was good enough. Table tennis has given me a real belief – in some ways, it has saved me.”
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