![South Wales team of 4 players standing together holding a Welsh flag, with the top half white, bottom half green, and a red dragon in the middle.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27162%27%20height%3D%27217%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20162%20217%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27162%27%20height%3D%27217%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Each Thursday we want to put the spotlight on a person involved with goalball – from players, officials, coaches, or anyone
This week we caught up with Marcus Strait!
What club do you play for or coach?
I play for South Wales.
How did you discover goalball?
I was born in Cardiff, but I lived in the USA from when I was 7 to 15 and played goalball at the blind school I went to in South Carolina. We played against teams from other states, such as West Virginia and Florida, so it always involved lots of long journeys. When I moved back to Cardiff, I went along to a South Wales training session in November 2019 and have been playing for them ever since.
Is there a particular song, artist, or genre that you listen to before a tournament to get in the mood? Or anything you’re loving at the moment?
There is nothing specific – just something uplifting. I like rock and rap music from across the decades. One of my favourite bands is the Deftones.
Do you have any pre-game superstitions or rituals?
I like to do a good warm-up with lots of stretching as this is especially important as you get older!
Do you have a favourite post-match meal?
Crisps and chocolate! I’ve been known to have a Pot Noodle as well!
Which goalball player do you admire the most and why?
Dave Scott as he is an all-around good guy. He’s a great player but also has lots of sports science knowledge.
Outside of goalball, what other hobbies/sports do you do?
I enjoy swimming. I also enjoy walking and exploring new places in The Valleys.
Finally, what place, anywhere in the world, is on your bucket list to visit and why?
I’d like to visit a major city in every continent. I’d also like to go to Scandinavia and Iceland to see the Northern Lights.