Tokyo: Former Game of Thrones star Krysten Coombs concluded a memorable Paralympics debut as he bagged bronze in Tokyo defeating Brazil’s Vitor Goncalves Tavares 12-21, 21-10, 21-16 in the men’s badminton SH6 bronze-medal match.
Coombs was one of four paddlers in Great Britain’s badminton contingent in Tokyo. He was joined by Jack Shephard, Daniel Bethell and Martin Rooke. Bethell won silver in the SL3 category.
“This bronze is the pinnacle,” Coombs said. “It’s what the 14 years I’ve been there for, the experience, the journey I’ve come on to now get to the top level and to compete at these Games. Winning a bronze medal – it’s all come true. It’s unbelievable.”
Badminton, along with taekwondo, was one of two new events added to the Paralympics programme in Tokyo.
Coombs had earned his spot through successful bipartite applications, which were provided to assure representation of athletes with significant support needs, gender equality, and participation of top athletes who might not have had the opportunity to formally qualify through other means.
The 30-year-old, who is ranked fifth in the world, has had a successful career, winning a European gold medal in 2016 and a global silver the following year. Coombs won his first international gold in 2008, and in 2018, he received National Lottery funding after more than a decade of self-financing his career with part-time work at Ikea and an acting role on Game of Thrones.
Coombs made a guest appearance in the second episode of Season 4 of Game of Thrones: The Lion and the Rose. He then joined other short-statured actors in portraying Balon Greyjoy in a reenactment of the War of Kings.
