A 39-year-old teacher beat some of sports’ biggest names and bagged a $250,000 prize last week.
Matt Dennish, a 6ft 6in PE teacher, secured a third place finish at the Fanatics Games in New York City at the weekend, competing with pro athletes in a range of different sporting challenges.
Matt Dennish earned himself a $250,000 prize at the Fanatics Games last week[/caption]
The PE teacher competed against top athletes like Tom Brady in the Games in New York[/caption]
Dennish was one of 50 fans to go up against 50 athletes and celebrities at the Javits Center in the Big Apple.
Despite coming up against the likes of NBA superstar James Harden, two-time Super Bowl champ Eli Manning and WWE hero John Cena, Dennish secured a podium finish.
In fact, only UFC fighter Justin Gaethje and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady finished ahead of the fan.
Dennish’s impressive effort earned him the prize of a 2003-04 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor LeBron James rookie card, which he later sold to Brady for $250,000 and a signed card and jersey from the New England Patriots legend.
The unlikely success could have been down to Dennish’s ability to stay calm under pressure, and a sneak preview of the eight events he would be facing the night before.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Dennish said: “I was just trying to prepare as much as possible, but also stay calm and relaxed.
“And I knew that’s kind of what it was going to come down to, is the mental side of things. I know I have the skills to compete, which is when, in the moment, I can dial it in when the light’s bright.”
Dennish was the highest placed fan after competing in an array of challenges that included NFL quarterback skills, soccer goals, basketball shooting and a WWE Superstar walkout.
Dennish beat out WWE legend and Hollywood superstar John Cena[/caption]
Eli Manning also finished behind Dennish[/caption]
James Harden was another big name star who finished behind the 39-year-old teacher[/caption]
But despite being a far cry from the level of the sporting icons he was up against, the York, Pa. local is no stranger to success on the biggest stage.
Dennish also unbelievably hit a half-court shot at a Philadelphia 76ers game last year.
The teacher is now thinking he will need a vacation following his latest success, recalling the storm that followed him after his iconic moment at the Wells Fargo Center for the 76ers.
He said: “I just went to do it thinking nobody would know about it.
“Well, of course I made it and it just blew up and it was an exhausting week.
“So [I’m] kind of picturing the same thing, at least at summer vacation.”
Tom Brady was the overall winner of the Fanatics Games, earning the top prize of $1million – before immediately giving it all to charity.
