Matt Skelhon

Started: He first tried shooting at age 11. He began competing in shooting Para sport at the 2006 Inter Spinal Unit Games in Stoke Mandeville, England. (rio.paralympics.org.uk, 2016) Reason: He originally practised the sport as a hobby with his father. (rio.paralympics.org.uk, 2016) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in London. (paralympics.org.uk, 28 Jun 2024) Awards: He was named the 2014 Sportsman of the Year by the Peterborough Telegraph newspaper in England. (peterboroughtoday.co.uk, 30 Jan 2015) Additional Info: RIO AND TOKYO DISAPPOINTMENT After winning medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing [gold] and the 2012 Games in London [one silver, one bronze], he did not reach the podium at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro or the 2020 Games in Tokyo. "[After Rio] I was depressed and had no motivation to shoot again. I was on the verge of quitting, and even after starting to train again I left many camps angry and ready to throw in the towel. [In Tokyo] I went out and tried as hard as I could but I think that just put even more pressure on myself. I think 90% of it is mental. Tokyo was a big challenge for me and I didn't cope with the preparation and the Games themselves well at all. At that time I wondered if it would be my last Games but I didn't want to finish in that way so I pushed on and trained hard and smart and now I am in a really good place and very happy with how things have turned around. I have a new team and coaches around me and it is really good. It will be amazing to be back to normal in Paris and have the feeling of a proper Games." (bbc.com, 28 Jun 2024; British Shooting Facebook page, 05 Sep 2021; paralympic.org, 19 Jul 2017)