Larry
Matthews

Larry Matthews is Canada’s volleyball with a disability guru. He was a member of the national standing team from 1994 to 2007, helping Canada to four world titles and a Paralympic Games silver in 2000. He switched to the sitting game in 2007 and earned bronze medals at the 2007 and 2011 Parapan American Games. He is now focused on winning a medal at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto and qualifying for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Matthews was born without a fully developed left leg, but this never stopped him from playing sports. He always enjoyed being active and was introduced to volleyball at age seven. He instantly fell in love with the sport and has been playing ever since.

He is also a certified sitting volleyball coach. He has coached both the men’s and women’s national sitting teams from 2008 to 2010. In 2012, he joined the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology men’s volleyball team as assistant coach, working under Doug Anton.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Won bronze medals at 2007 and 2011 Parapan American Games…Silver medal in standing volleyball at Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games…Four-time world champion with Team Canada in standing volleyball…  Named to 2015 Parapan American Games team…

PERSONAL

Married to Elsie, has two children…Works as a prosthetics technician…

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

2015 Defi Sportif 1st
2013 Pan Am Championships 3rd
2011 Parapan American Games 3rd
2010 World Championships 16th
2007 Parapan American Games 3rd

2006 World Championships (stand): 1st
2005 World Championships (stand): 1st
2004 World Championships (stand): 1st
2003 World Championships (stand): 2nd
2002 World Championships (stand): 1st
2000 Paralympic Games (standing): 2nd