Who is Matt?
Matt Formston was diagnosed with Macular Dystrophy at the tender age of five years old. His doctors, educators and caretakers confronted his family with their picture of Matt’s life to come; he’d never be able to read, write, move around, play sports or be an effective or contributing member of society because simply put, he was blind.
Matt is, simply put, an inspiration. He’s a blind man living a sighted man’s life. He’s living proof of the human spirit transcending all limits. He’s been able to develop his own technologies and techniques to break all the rules, enjoying a beer and a smile as he goes!
He navigates his blind man’s world without a cane. He is a Paralympian, former World Record holder and World Champion, World Cup Gold Medalist and 12 time Australian Champion in cycling. He played rugby union and ice hockey - yes full contact sports in abled bodied competition. He scuba dives and is a current pro surfer, traveling the globe competing on the Adaptive Surfing scene, he is the current Australian Champion in his category and is undefeated internationally in 2017. He’s also enjoyed a decade long career in big business, working as a top end salesman for a Fortune 500 IT and communication company before taking on his current roll as a leader in Corporate Social Responsibility.
Another way of putting it would be ‘there’s something about Matt’. And now Matt is bringing these amazing life lessons and corporate skills into the world as a speaker, a trainer and personal coach.