Going for the Goal

Matt Simpson '12 calls goalball "the best sport you've never heard of."

Simpson was 10 years old when he first heard of the sport. Six years earlier he'd been diagnosed with Leber's congenital amaurosis, a rare genetic eye disorder resulting in severe vision loss at an early age. As his eyesight deteriorated during grade school, Simpson abandoned dreams of playing baseball for the Atlanta Braves. He tried swimming and running, but neither satisfied his thirst for competition.

Then he found goalball, a team sport for visually impaired athletes. His first experience was at a summer camp hosted by the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes. He came home and proclaimed his intention to compete in the Paralympics one day. And so he has - twice: a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and fourth place in Tokyo in 2021. Now, he's training for the Paris Games in August as a member of the 2024 USA men's goalball team.

"I love competing for the U.S. Coming out of the tunnel in the red, white and blue is always a thrill for me," says Simpson. "Having this chance to compete for another medal in Paris is something I've worked hard to achieve."

PLAYING TO HIS STRENGTHS

Goalball was invented in the 1940s to help rehabilitate World War II veterans who'd lost their sight. Two teams of three players compete on an 18-by-9-meter court, trying to throw a ball into goals that span the width of the court on either end. All players are blindfolded since they may have varying degrees of sight. Lines are tactile so players can feel their way around.

Simpson calls the ball "a big cat toy." It's the size of a basketball with bells inside so players can track it by the sound. "The game requires strength and explosive power to throw the ball, which weighs three pounds," Simpson says. "Then you need quickness and strength to block a ball traveling at up to 50 miles an hour."

Because he had some vision growing up, Simpson developed valuable motor skills.

"A kid born totally blind won't know what it looks like to walk or run or throw a ball," he says. "I was legally blind but didn't need a cane or a dog when I was little. That's been an advantage."

To gain necessary strength, he's spent hours in the weight room, starting at W&L. Simpson's biggest asset on the goalball court is his versatility - he plays both center and wing positions.

"Matt's father told me he was very slight until he started hitting the weights and increasing his calories at college. He really built his body up," says Keith Young, coach of Team USA.

"I call Matt a 'zero to 24' guy. Whether he plays zero minutes or the entire 24 minutes, he'll do whatever is needed to help the team win."

ATHLETIC AMBITION

After graduating from W&L with a double major in history and politics, Simpson spent three years working for the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes before entering the University of Virginia School of Law in 2017. By then, he figured goalball, at least on the international level, was behind him.

"I'd won a silver medal. I'd done what I had set out to do, and law school didn't leave a lot of extra time," he says.

Simpson filled most of his extra time by lifting weights and maintaining his physical conditioning - just in case the competitive itch returned. And it did, during his third year at UVA when he resumed training with Team USA as it prepared for the Parapan American Games. He made that team, which won silver in Lima, Peru, thereby qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

With all his impending commitments - finishing law school, studying for the bar, starting a job with the global law firm Sidley Austin - Simpson thought Tokyo was out. Then COVID- 19 hit; the Tokyo Games were delayed a year.

"The postponement gave me a sigh of relief, but I still doubted whether I could start work with a big law firm and keep training to be at my best," says Simpson.

Not only did his firm support his preparations for the Paralympics, but the pandemic also forced him to work remotely, which meant he could live, work and train anywhere - "as long as I billed my hours."

Consequently, Simpson competed in Tokyo where Team USA finished fourth and just missed the medals. He's excited for another chance at the gold medal in Paris this summer.

And yet, he's driven by more than the wins and losses. As a member of the board of the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes, he's committed to growing goalball and helping individuals with disabilities discover their potential and value in the world through sports.

"Goalball is something I love and something I'm blessed to be part of," Simpson says.

This article first appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of W&L: The Washington and Lee Magazine.

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