If you’ve wandered through Gobowen or seen a cyclist powering up Blodwell Bank, chances are you’ve spotted Matthew Collins on one of his gruelling training sessions. This local man is quietly making waves in the world of professional triathlon—and his journey is just getting started.

Matthew’s roots are firmly planted in Oswestry soil. A proud pupil of Whittington Primary and the Marches School, he was the child who always had mud on his boots and a cricket bat in hand. He played every sport he could, representing the Marches in both football and cricket before going on to ace his A-levels at the Marches Sixth Form, and his academic success opened the door to his dream university: Loughborough.

There, Matthew juggled a Maths and Sports Science degree while training. He graduated with a 2:1 and, true to form, didn’t hang around. He came straight home and got to work—literally. To help fund his triathlon dreams, he works 20-25 hours a week with his dad’s gardening business, keeping one hand in the soil while the other’s reaching for the stars.

But Matthew’s story started long before Loughborough. At just six years old, he joined the junior triathlon club at Oswestry Olympians, where his dad coached. By eight, he was racing. Through sheer grit and determination, he worked his way up through the junior ranks and into the university development squad—training alongside Olympic-level athletes like Alex Yee. During his time at uni, he won two British University titles and finished second in the world in the 70.3 age group category in 2022.

In 2023, he finally nailed it—qualifying for his long-distance professional license by winning Outlaw X. Last year was his first full tilt as a pro but the transition wasn’t easy. This year, Matthew’s first two races in the Ironman Pro Series, didn’t bring prize money, but they brought perspective and hunger. That hunger paid off big time in America, where he claimed his first professional 2025 podium, with a third-place finish—against some of the best in the world.

Now, with eyes set on upcoming Ironman races in Swansea and Leeds, Matthew’s pushing harder than ever. His training schedule is intense: 15-20km swimming at Oswestry Leisure Centre, 10-14 hours on the bike around the local hills and into Ellesmere, and 50-65 miles running weekly through the landscapes he’s grown up with. Ask him his favourite training loop? A three-hour ride to Lake Vyrnwy and back up Blodwell Bank. For running? Gobowen to Pant Glas and back down through Selattyn.

Despite his incredible rise, Matthew is still funding the dream himself. He has no paid sponsorships—yet. But he’s hoping his recent results and growing visibility will change that.

If you want to follow his journey (and you should), check out his Instagram @matt_tri17.