In this inspiring episode, Jesse chats to world champion surfer, Paralympian, and business leader Matt Formston. Matt Formston stands as a powerful example of how resilience and determination can shatter boundaries and redefine what’s possible. Despite having less than 3% vision, he has excelled in the athletic, corporate, and community worlds, inspiring others with his story of courage and grit.
A Member of the Order of Australia (AM), Matt’s achievements are legendary. He holds a Guinness World Record for surfing the largest wave (51ft) conquered by a blind or para-athlete. He is a 4x Para Surfing World Champion, a Track Cycling World Champion, a 12x Australian Cycling Champion, and competed in the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Each accomplishment reflects his unwavering mission—to prove that any limit can be redefined through possibility and perseverance.
He shares his journey of defying expectations, the power of mindset, and how building the right team has helped him break records and lead global organisations. This is a conversation about resilience, trust, and redefining what’s possible.
In this episode:
- [00:00] Introduction to Matt Formston and his early diagnosis with vision loss
- [02:20] How Matt’s parents helped shift his mindset from limitation to possibility
- [05:15] Competing against sighted athletes and discovering his unique advantage
- [08:45] The pivotal moment that led Matt to professional cycling
- [13:30] Transitioning from elite sport to business and bringing a high-performance mindset
- [17:25] Why Matt refuses to let external voices dictate his potential
- [19:40] How adaptability and grit helped him lead through change
- [23:10] Building strong teams and empowering others to succeed
- [26:45] The role of preparation and consistency in world-class performance.
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