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At the age of 30, para athlete Gwendoline Matos is set to compete in her first Paralympic Games in just a few days with the French women’s goalball team. This is a moment that the young woman from Besançon (Doubs) has long anticipated, having centered her life around this event.
She dreamed of it, and now she will live it. In the venue of the Arena Paris Sud 6, she will proudly don the tricolor jersey during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. She will wear the number 7, which is not a random choice. The number 7 symbolizes both the seventh letter of the alphabet, “G,” representing Gwendoline, and the initial letters of two words that resonate deeply with her: “winning and goalball,” she announces with pride.
At 30, Gwendoline Matos stands at a significant point in her young life. Hailing from the Jura and currently residing in Besançon (Doubs), she is on the verge of fulfilling her lifelong dream, one that has been the foundation of her past seven years: participating in the Paralympic Games, especially in Paris.
“This is my number one dream, my primary goal.” she reiterated on Tuesday, July 30. On that day, we visited her at the Orchamps gymnasium in Besançon, where Gwendoline practices goalball in preparation for the Games. We discovered a sport that was, to be honest, unfamiliar to us: two teams of three players defend three small goals aligned end to end while attempting to throw a large, noisy ball. Notably, they wear masks over their eyes.
It is a lesser-known Paralympic sport, designed for the blind and visually impaired. We all wear masks to become completely blind, and the balls contain bells that help us locate them by sound.
Gwendoline Matos,player of the French women’s goalball team
The objective is to score by rolling the ball into the opposing team’s goal—a combination of handball and bowling that has become Gwendoline Matos’ daily life. “I discovered this sport in 2016 at a specialized institution for visually impaired individuals” she recounts. “Before that, I played torball, a similar sport that is not Paralympic, which is why I made the switch.“
The aspiration for Paris 2024 was already on her mind. It is no surprise considering that sports have played a pivotal role in her life from a young age. “I have been active since I was a baby,” she laughs. “As a child, my parents would punish me by making me sit still.” At the age of 7, this fierce personality could have been challenged following the diagnosis of a rare genetic retinal disease.
“I have been gradually losing my sight. Currently, I have less than a 10th vision in each eye.” she explains. “Things were quite tough in my primary school in Lect, in the Jura. I faced a lot of mockery, which led me to decide at the age of 10 to attend a specialized boarding school in Besançon.“
Despite not having even begun secondary school, Gwendoline left for Doubs. “I was young,” she recalls. “I only saw my family on weekends. It was challenging, but I persevered. I have always had a strong character.” This transformative experience allowed Gwendoline to cope with the upheavals brought on by her disability… through sport, using it as a means to push her limits and build confidence.
Engaging in sports has enabled me to challenge myself, set constant goals, and continuously push upward. On the field, I am an athlete in every sense; the disability is irrelevant, and we are all equals.
Gwendoline Matos,player of the French women’s goalball team
Returning to goalball, after discovering it in 2016, the Jura native chose to “fully embrace this adventure” and joined the Association Sportive et Culturelle des Centres de Bregille (ASCCB) in Besançon. A meteoric rise followed. The Franche-Comté native discovered the French team the following year and participated in her first European championships, competing in Division B.
Gwendoline Matos (left) surrounded by her teammates from the French women’s goalball team, with the emblem of the 2024 Paralympic Games.
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© Gwendoline Matos / DR
In 2018, she met Charlotte Vidalot, who would go on to become her coach in Besançon and with the French team. “When I first met Gwen, her mentality struck me,” explains the 32-year-old coach. “She doesn’t let herself be sidelined and knows exactly what she wants. She is a diligent worker who has made significant sacrifices to achieve her dreams.“
This illustrates the rigorous program to which Gwendoline subjects herself. “I breathe goalball, I eat goalball, I sleep goalball; my life revolves around goalball,” the athlete exclaims, laughing. Specifically, in addition to the fifteen hours she dedicates to her sport weekly—whether in a club or during individual sessions—Gwendoline Matos often travels on weekends for training or competitions with the French team. This demanding schedule is made feasible by her accommodating role in the sports department of the Doubs department, which allows her to maintain a manageable pace.
Moreover, she has sought advice from a physical trainer and carefully monitors her diet and sleep. Weight training is also part of her regimen. “It’s pretty demanding,” reiterates Charlotte Vidalot. “In goalball, the players are amateurs. However, Gwendoline conducts herself like a professional. She dedicates substantial human and financial resources to her training.“
This constant investment has not gone unnoticed by her partner, Gilles Brand, who supports her deeply. “We have been together since 2018, and the Olympics are a shared goal for us,” he explains. “I took up goalball to train with her, and I have witnessed her evolution. She is a fighter. When she sets her mind to something, she doesn’t hesitate. Today, she is a leader who detests losing.“
When we go away for a weekend, training sessions take precedence. Competitions and practice come before everything else. Goalball permeates our lives, so competing in the Games in Paris will be extraordinary.
Gilles Brand,Gwendoline’s partner
At the Paralympics, Gilles will certainly be there to cheer on Gwendoline, along with her parents, family, and loved ones. “Everyone will be supporting us; it will be a unique experience,” Gwendoline expresses with emotion. “It will be a bit like the Olympic Games, where the atmosphere was incredible. I can already envision myself on the field, singing the Marseillaise…“
From a sporting perspective, what are the prospects for the French women’s goalball team? “When I joined Les Bleues, we were ranked 42nd in the world,” explains Charlotte Vidalot, Gwendoline’s coach. “Today, we are 18th and have advanced to Division A. We are progressing. While we know we won’t be favored, with the support of the public and the energy of the event, there’s a chance for a medal.“
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Gwendoline even has her own panini image!
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© Gwendoline Matos / DR
This is also Gwendoline’s secret dream as she anticipates the moment she has yearned for. “I didn’t fully comprehend it,” she confesses. “But now, with the Olympics, the athletes, the podiums… It’s surreal. I know I will be stressed; I’m nervous before every match. But once I throw my first ball, that anxiety disappears.“
Then it will be time to see how far the Doubiste has come. The girl who left her home to adapt to her disability is now a skilled athlete, leader of the national goalball team, and the championship’s top scorer of the season. What more could she want? An Olympic medal, of course! Glory to number 7!
At 30 years old, para athlete Gwendoline Matos will participate in her first Paralympic Games in a few days, with the French women’s goalball team. A moment that the young woman from Besançon (Doubs) has been waiting for years, she who has built her life around this event.
She dreamed of it, she will be there. In the setting of the Arena Paris Sud 6, she will indeed wear the tricolor jersey during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. A tunic bearing the number 7, a number not chosen at random. 7, because the seventh letter of the alphabet is the “G” of Gwendoline, her first name. But also the first letter of two words that are close to her heart and that define her life: winning and goalball she announces proudly.
At 30, Gwendoline Matos is at a turning point in her young life. The woman who grew up in the Jura and currently lives in Besançon (Doubs) is preparing to fulfill her dearest wish since childhood, around which she has built her last seven years: to participate in the Paralympic Games, especially in Paris.
“This is my number 1 dream, my first goal.” she repeated to us on Tuesday, July 30. That day, we went to meet her at the Orchamps gymnasium in Besançon. That’s where Gwendoline is training for goalball in preparation for the Games. We discovered a sport that, we admit, is still unknown to us: two teams of three players, defending three small goals placed end to end and throwing a big noisy ball. With, and this is notable, a mask over the eyes.
It is a little-known Paralympic sport, specialized for the blind and visually impaired. We all wear masks, to be totally blind. And the noise in the balls, they are bells, which helps us locate the ball by listening.
Gwendoline Matos,player of the French women’s goalball team
The goal: to score by rolling the ball into the opponent’s goal. A mix of handball and bowling, which has become Gwendoline Matos’ daily life. I discovered this sport in 2016, in a specialized establishment for visually impaired people she says. Before, I played torball, a similar sport, but not Paralympic. That’s why I changed.
The Paris 2024 goal was already in her mind. It’s not surprising, given that sport has been a part of her life since she was a little girl. Since I was a baby, I haven’t stayed still. she laughs. As a child, my parents punished me by making me sit still. At the age of 7, this strong character could have been broken after the detection of a rare genetic disease of the retina.
“I have been losing my sight little by little. Currently, I have less than a 10th in each eye.” she explains. In my primary school, in Lect, in the Jura, things went rather badly. I suffered a lot of mockery and I decided, at the age of 10, to go to Besançon to a specialized boarding school.
Even though she hadn’t even started secondary school, Gwendoline left for Doubs. I was young she remembers. I only saw my family on weekends. It was difficult, but I stuck with it. Anyway, I always had a strong temper. A saving exile: Gwendoline, accompanied, overcomes the upheavals caused by her handicap… with sport, as a way of pushing her limits, and gaining confidence.
Playing sports has allowed me to challenge myself, to always set goals, to push myself upwards. On the field, I am a full-fledged athlete, there is no more handicap, we are all the same.
Gwendoline Matos,player of the French women’s goalball team
Let’s get back to goalball. After discovering it in 2016, the Jura native decided to join the adventure in full swing and registered with the Association Sportive et Culturelle des Centres de Bregille (ASCCB) in Besançon. A meteoric rise followed. The Franche-Comté native discovered the French team the following year and took part in her first European championships, in division B.
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Gwendoline Matos (left) surrounded by her teammates from the French women’s goalball team, with the emblem of the 2024 Paralympic Games. • © Gwendoline Matos / DR
In 2018, she met Charlotte Vidalot, who would become her coach in Besançon and in the French team. “When I met Gwen, what struck me was her mentality” explains the 32-year-old trainer. “She doesn’t let herself be pushed around, and knows where she’s going. She’s a hard worker, who has made some pretty crazy efforts to give herself the right to achieve her dreams.“
In this way, Charlotte approaches the drastic program to which Gwendoline is subjecting herself. I breathe goalball, I eat goalball, I sleep goalball exclaims the athlete, laughing. In detail, in addition to the fifteen hours she devotes to her sport per week, in a club or in individual sessions, Gwendoline Matos often goes away on weekends for training or competition with the French team. A schedule made possible by a suitable position in the sports department of the Doubs department, which allows her not to spread herself too thin.
In addition, she has taken advice from a physical trainer and pays attention to her diet and sleep. Not to mention the weight training sessions that she imposes on herself. It’s pretty crazy resumes Charlotte Vidalot. In goalball, the players are amateurs. But Gwendoline behaves like a professional. She puts a lot of human and financial resources into it.
A constant investment, of which his companion, Gilles Brand, is a privileged witness. We have been together since 2018, and the Olympics are a goal we have in common. he explains. I went to goalball to train her, I saw her evolve. She is a fighter. When she has something in mind, she is not afraid. Today, she is a leader who hates losing.
We’re going away for a weekend, we’re planning a training session. Competitions and training sessions come before everything else. Goalball is omnipresent in our lives, so doing the Games in Paris will be wonderful.
Gilles Brand,Gwendoline’s companion
At the Paralympics, Gilles will of course be there to support Gwendoline. Like his parents, his family and his loved ones. Everyone will be behind us, it will be unique Gwendoline projects with emotion.A bit like the Olympic Games, where the atmosphere was incredible. I can already see myself on the field, singing the Marseillaise…
And from a sporting point of view, what are the chances of this French women’s goalball team? When I joined Les Bleues, we were ranked 42nd in the world. explains Charlotte Vidalot, Gwendoline’s trainer. And today, we are 18th, while having moved up to Division A. We are progressing. We know that we will be far from being favorites. But with the public, with the atmosphere, why not a medal?
Gwendoline even has her own panini image! • © Gwendoline Matos / DR
It is also the secret dream of Gwendoline, who sees the long-awaited moment approaching. I didn’t really realize she confesses. And then there, with the Olympics, the athletes, the podiums… It’s crazy. I know very well that I’m going to be stressed, I’m stressed at every match. But once I’ve thrown my first ball, it’s gone.
It will then be time to see how far the Doubiste has come. The child who left home to live as well as possible with her disability is now an accomplished athlete, leader of the national goalball team and top scorer of the season in the championship. What more could you ask for? An Olympic medal of course! Glory to number 7!
