Matti Launonen

Matti Launonen (31 May 1944[2] – 23 March 2019) was a Finnish para table tennis player who competed until his sudden death in 2019. He was one of the first table tennis players to win a world title in the para table tennis championships in Assen, Netherlands and a European title in Salou, Spain.[3]

Matti Launonen
Personal information
Born31 May 1944
Kuopio, Finland[1]
Died23 March 2019(2019-03-23) (aged 74)
Atlantis, Florida, United States
Sport
Country Finland
SportPara table tennis
DisabilitySpinal cord injury
Disability classC1
Medal record
Para table tennis
Representing  Finland
Paralympic Games
1992 BarcelonaMen's singles C1
1996 AtlantaMen's teams C1-2
1996 AtlantaMen's singles C1
2000 SydneyMen's singles C1
1992 BarcelonaMen's teams C2
World Championships
1990 AssenMen's singles C1
1998 ParisMen's teams C1-2
1990 AssenMen's teams C3
1998 ParisMen's singles C1
2002 TaipeiMen's singles C1
European Championships
1995 HillerodMen's singles C1
1995 HillerodMen's teams C2
1997 StockholmMen's singles C1
1997 StockholmMen's teams C1-2
1999 PiestanyMen's singles C1
2003 ZagrebMen's singles C1
2007 Kranjska GoraMen's singles C1
1991 SalouMen's singles C1
1991 SalouMen's teams C2
2001 FrankfurtMen's singles C1
2001 FrankfurtMen's teams C1-2

Launonen was seriously injured aged 18 in a car accident while travelling at more than 80 km/h, the car he was driving had handbrake fault and he couldn't stop the car: the car suddenly turned and rolled around.

He had a fall at his home and suffered a leg injury but died at hospital aged 74 in Florida.[4]

References
  1. "Merkittäviä pelaajia" (in Finnish). Kuopio Table Tennis Club. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  3. "IPTTC Profile - Matti Launonen". International Para Table Tennis Federation. 28 March 2019.
  4. "Matti Launonen, a true great of para sport, passes away". ittf.com. 27 March 2019.
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