14 Facts About Matthew Elias

Matthew John "Matt" Elias was born on 25 April 1979 and is a retired Welsh athlete who specialised in the 400 metres sprint and 400 metres hurdles.

Matthew Elias won the European Under 23 Championships for the 400m hurdles in 2001 in a time of 49.57.

In 1998, Elias was part of the Welsh team that competed at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Matthew Elias competed in the 4 x 400 metres relay and set a new Welsh record in the final on the way to a bronze medal.

Matthew Elias competed at the 1999 European Athletics U23 Championships that year, in the 400 metres hurdles and 4 x 400 metres relay.

Matthew Elias won his heat of the 400 metres hurdles with a season's best of 50.84, before finishing last by over a second and a half in the final.

Matthew Elias ran only in the final of the 4 x 400 metres relay, running second leg to help the British team secure a bronze medal.

Matthew Elias competed in the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships in the men's 4 x 400 metres relay, finishing second behind eventual champions Poland in the heats before finishing outside the medals in fourth in the final.

Matthew Elias switched back to the 400 metres at the Welsh championships and won his second 400 metres title.

Matthew Elias competed at the 2001 European Athletics U23 Championships in the 400 metres hurdles and the 4 x 400 metres relay, taking home two gold medals.

Matthew Elias raced in both the heats and the final, running anchor leg on both occasions to lead Great Britain to a closely fought victory over Germany.

Matthew Elias won his third and final Welsh 400 metres title.

Matthew Elias competed at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, winning two silvers, one in the individual 400 metres hurdles and the other in the men's 4 x 400 metres relay as part of a Welsh quartet that included British-record holder Iwan Thomas.

Matthew Elias competed in the 2002 European Athletics Championships in both the 400 metres hurdles and 4 x 400 metres relay.