Latest News Yvonne Matts, Paralympic Bowls Player 5th November 2018 1947-2018Collection donated to the NPHT Yvonne with her husband and coach, Peter. Torchbearers at London 2012 Yvonne Hawtin was born and lived most of her life in Coventry. She began life as a dancer but following a car accident in March 1966 she suffered a severe spinal injury, spending a year at the Princess Spinal Unit in Sheffield. Yvonne known as Eve to her family was never to walk again. She attended a Stoke Mandeville Games, and this she said transformed her life providing a real turning point. Her first sports were archery and shooting but she became increasingly interested in bowls. As a result of participating in the Interspinal Games at Stoke Mandeville Stadium she joined the Rugby Thornfield Bowling Club, who were ultimately responsible for making her into a successful athlete. Her first Paralympic Games were in Arnhem in 1980 where she came back with two silver medals. She went on to compete in many Games and her impressive collection of medals now forms part of the National Paralympic Heritage Trust’s growing collection. Yvonne retired from competitions in 1992 but kept on playing bowls for many years. Yvonne's medals and GB jackets Yvonne was an inspiration to her family and the people of Coventry, celebrated within her community as well as in the international sports world. As a guest of honour at the opening of a store in Coventry she met the famous boxer Muhammad Ali. He asked to talk to her and her husband, coach Peter Matts, after opening the store and they became life long friends talking every Sunday by phone, up until Muhammad Ali developed Parkinsons disease. He even invited them to stay with him for the Los Angeles 1984 Paralympic Games, but the Games had not been properly planned and had to be relocated to Stoke Mandeville and New York. Her Paralympic Games medals were: Arnhem 1980 – 2 Silvers for Women’s Pairs and Women’s Singles Stoke Mandeville and New York 1984 – 2 Silver for Mixed Pairs Paraplegic and Women’s Pairs Paraplegic, 1 Gold for Women’s Singles Paraplegic Yvonne lived life to the full and continued her love of dancing, with her husband Peter spinning her chair, as well as enjoying a slow dance sat on her lap. Yvonne’s inspiring story is one of many being collected by the National Paralympic Heritage Trust and we are grateful to her family for their general donation of objects and stories. Some of Yvonne’s collection will feature in the new Heritage Centre at Stoke Mandeville Stadium planned to open at the end of March 2019. Yvonne’s full medal achievement: Year Competition Singles Doubles Team Event 1979 Internationals Bronze Gold Nationals Gold Gold Home Internationals Trophy Winner 1980 Olympics for the disabled (Arnhem) Silver Silver Nationals Gold Gold 1981 Internationals Gold Gold Nationals Gold Gold Home Internationals Runners up 1982 Internationals Silver Gold Nationals Gold Gold 1983 Internationals Silver Silver Nationals Gold (Not held) 1984 Olympics (International games for the disabled) Stoke Mandeville Gold Silver Mixed Pairs - Silver Nationals Gold Gold 1985 Internationals Bronze Gold Nationals Silver Silver Home Internationals Runners up 1986 South African Opens Silver Internationals Gold Gold Nationals Gold Gold Home Internationals Trophy Winner 1987 Internationals Gold Gold Nationals Gold Gold Home Internationals Bronze 1988 Seoul Paralympics Nationals Silver Gold Home Internationals Runners up 1989 Nationals Gold Gold Internationals Gold Gold Home Internationals Runners up 1990 World Internationals Australia Gold Gold Nationals Gold Gold Internationals Gold Gold 1991 Nationals Bronze Silver Internationals Gold Bronze Mixed Pairs - Gold 1992 Nationals Gold Bronze Home Internationals Trophy Winner For more information about Yvonne Matts née Hawtin, visit the Paralympic athletes page here Manage Cookie Preferences