Matthew 'Panda' Smyth aims to be Britain's Strongest Disabled Man

Having won three British International All Round Weightlifting Association (IAWA) titles back-to-back, Smyth is confident – and is aiming to set a world record in the process.

But after the 32-year-old came close to taking his own life during lockdown, he turned to training in the gym and competing and has turned his life around, finding huge success in doing so.

Speaking to the Daily Echo on how he got into what he does now, Smyth said: “In all honesty, it's not a particularly nice story.

“During lockdown, my depression kicked up quite a lot.

“I ended up having a suicide attempt and then just sort of thought, I need to change my life completely, never been in a gym before, got back in the gym and then everything's kicked off from there.”

(Image: Matthew Smyth)

Poole-born Smyth decided he would compete before he’d even set foot in a gym.

“It was February 2021 before the gyms were open again,” he said.

“I put on some strength groups on Facebook, does anyone know about any strength competitions for disabled people?

“Somebody got in touch with me on Facebook going, I organise Britain’s Strongest Disabled Man, come on down.”

To become competitive, Smyth subjected himself to daily gym sessions of three or four hours, giving 100 per cent dedication in what he describes as military-like training – as well as eating a ‘massive’ amount of food to fuel himself.

He has hip and knee dysplasia, which means he no hip or knee sockets from birth and so is wheelchair bound, but competition is like any you would see involving able-bodied people, only seated.

(Image: Matthew Smyth)

He finished third in the British Strongman in his first competition, before winning the British weightlifting title a year later.

Speaking about his emotions after that first title, Smyth said: “It absolutely broke me. I remember thinking, you know, it's been 18 months since I started this journey.

“I've had no suicidal thoughts. It was a win on so many levels, emotional as well, looking back, thinking, this is the longest I've been without any self-harm attempts or anything.

“It was just absolutely groundbreaking. It just released a new chapter into my life.”

Smyth said he puts a massive amount of pressure on himself to perform to his best, so he gets stressed before competitions – particularly in defending his titles, which he said has been difficult to do.

(Image: Matthew Smyth)

“Looking back, doing it back-to-back is something I never thought I'd be able to do, but I'm genuinely proud of it and it brings a tear to my eye, looking at the trophy cabinet, thinking, do you know what I've done all right here,” he said.

Now the holder of multiple British records, this weekend Smyth travels to the Indoor Athletics Centre at Brunel University in London to go compete in the Britain’s Disabled Strongman Competition.

He and his coach are aiming for four out of five event wins, and potentially a log press world record.

“I would like some Guinness World Records, but that's a plan for next year,” Smyth said. “But [I’m] just stacking every record I can get, just to add it to my portfolio, just so I can just sit there and look at it and be like, I did that, I did a thing.”

November means a trip to the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham for the World Championships, with Smyth aiming for an all-round win.

“I would love to be crowned world strongest disabled man,” he said.

“That's my genuine goal, just to say, here's everyone in the world and I'm stronger than them.

“That will be sort of crown of achievement, in all honesty.”

Anyone can contact Samaritans free 24/7. Call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org for more information.