Matthew Morsia (born 19 January 1986)[1] is an English bodybuilder, fitness coach and television personality, known for appearing as "Legend" on the British sports game show Gladiators. He is a former track and field athlete and powerlifter. He is also known by his social media profile "MattDoesFitness".
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Matthew Morsia |
| Nickname(s) | "MattDoesFitness" "Legend" |
| Nationality |  English |
| Born | 19 January 1986 Kent, South East England, England |
| Alma mater | University of Kent |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 96 kg (212 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Great Britain |
| Sport | Long and triple jump |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | Long jump: 7.15 Triple jump: 15.13 |
Early life
editMatthew Morsia, born in Kent, Southeast England, attended the University of Kent.[2]
Career
editMorsia competed as an athlete in the long jump and the triple jump. He has described his early attempts at managing his body weight whilst competing as disordered eating.[3] After suffering a stress fracture to his spine in 2012 he became a powerlifter. He won a silver medal at the European Championships in 2016.[4]
He worked as PE teacher at Folkestone Academy whilst building up an online fitness clientele using the moniker MattDoesFitness. The success of his fitness coaching led him to leave his teaching job.[5] He was given a YouTube Creator Award for gaining a million subscribers.[2] The channel later had two and a half million subscribers.[6] His book The 24/7 Body was published by Century in 2020.[3]
In January 2024, he began appearing as "Legend" on British TV endurance sports game show Gladiators,[7][8] where he is best known for his arrogant and self-obsessed character that has been popular with the show's viewers.[9][10] He described the role as a "lifetime ambition", having been a huge fan of the original show when he was a child.[11][12]
Personal life
editMeasuring roughly 6 ft 1 in tall[13] and 212 lbs,[14] Morsia is married to Sarah, and they have two sons, Luca and Mauro. They live in Hythe, Kent.[15][16][17] He nowadays trains up to six days a week with bodybuilding and powerlifting, to keep up his physique he has achieved over the past decades.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Matthew Morsia". World Athletics. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ a b Hayes, Phil (10 February 2020). "MattDoesFitness YouTube channel creator Matt Morsia quit teaching job to become UK's number one fitness vlogger". Kent Online. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ a b Roberts, Alex (30 December 2020). "Fitness influencer opens up on his battle with an eating disorder". Joe.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ Upton-Clarke, Eve (27 January 2024). "Gladiator's Legend's life off screen from PE teacher past to stunning wife". OK. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ Hayes, Phil (9 January 2024). "Legend on Gladiators is Kent dad Matt Morsia who has gone from teaching at Folkestone Academy to starring in new BBC One show". Kentonline. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "5 Facts About Gladiators Star Matt 'Legend' Morsia". Gymfluencers. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ Quinn, Anqie (13 January 2024). "Gladiator Legend used to be a PE teacher before finding fame as hunky fitness influencer". My London. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ Neudecker, Kate (23 February 2024). "Full Gladiators Line up, Including MH Elite Coach Zack George and Former Cover Star Lee Phillips". Men's Health. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "BBC Gladiators: Fans react to Legend playing up villain role". East Lothian Courier. 10 February 2024.
- ^ "BBC Gladiators: Viewers love Legend rabbit excuse in game". Dunfermline Express. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ Mensah, Katelyn (13 January 2024). "Who is Legend? Gladiators 2024 star and personal trainer". Radio Times. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Instagram".
- ^ "BBC One - Gladiators - Legend". BBC.
- ^ "Gladiators - Series 1: Episode 8". BBC iPlayer. BBC. (occurs after Hang Tough event).
- ^ Walker, Joe (4 February 2024). "Gladiators' Legend and YouTuber Matt Morsia opens doors to dream house in Hythe". Kent Online. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "BBC Gladiators star's wife says 'don't' in warning after son almost drowns in bath". Birmingham Mail. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ King, Danni (14 February 2024). "BBC Gladiators star's son, 2, rushed to hospital after seizure". OK. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Legend (Matt Morsia) | Gladiators". GladiatorsTV.