Matt Morsia

Last updated
Matt Morsia
Matt morsia.jpg
Personal information
Birth nameMatthew Morsia
Nickname(s)"MattDoesFitness"
"Legend"
Born (1986-01-19) 19 January 1986 (age 39)
Barnet, South East England, England
Alma mater University of Kent
Occupations
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight96 kg (212 lb)
Sport
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain
Sport Long and triple jump
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)Long jump: 7.15
Triple jump: 15.13

Matthew Morsia (born 19 January 1986) is an English YouTuber, 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, and is known by his social media profile "MattDoesFitness".

Contents

Early life

Matthew Morsia, born on 19 January 1986, [1] in Barnet, Southeast England, attended the University of Kent. [2]

Career

Morsia 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]

In 2013 Morsia began building up an online fitness clientele using the moniker MattDoesFitness. By 2017 he was a PE teacher at Folkestone Academy. The success of his fitness coaching led him to leave his teaching job. [5] In 2020 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] Morsia's Legend has so far appeared to be one of the toughest male gladiators to face on the show, as he excels in most of the events[ citation needed ], naming The Edge as his favourite. 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

Morsia is roughly 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall [13] and weighs 96 kilograms (212 lb). [14] He is married to Sarah, and they have two sons, Luca and Mauro. They live in Hythe, Kent. [15] [16] [17] He trains up to six days a week with bodybuilding and powerlifting. [18]

References

  1. ↑ "Matthew Morsia". World Athletics. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 Roberts, Alex (30 December 2020). "Fitness influencer opens up on his battle with an eating disorder". Joe.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "5 Facts About Gladiators Star Matt 'Legend' Morsia". Gymfluencers. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ "BBC Gladiators: Fans react to Legend playing up villain role". East Lothian Courier. 10 February 2024.
  10. ↑ "BBC Gladiators: Viewers love Legend rabbit excuse in game". Dunfermline Express. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  11. ↑ Mensah, Katelyn (13 January 2024). "Who is Legend? Gladiators 2024 star and personal trainer". Radio Times. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Instagram".
  13. ↑ "BBC One - Gladiators - Legend". BBC.
  14. ↑ "Gladiators - Series 1: Episode 8". BBC iPlayer. BBC. (occurs after Hang Tough event).
  15. ↑ Walker, Joe (4 February 2024). "Gladiators' Legend and YouTuber Matt Morsia opens doors to dream house in Hythe". Kent Online. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ King, Danni (14 February 2024). "BBC Gladiators star's son, 2, rushed to hospital after seizure". OK. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  18. ↑ "Legend (Matt Morsia) | Gladiators". GladiatorsTV.
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