Matt Skelhon Explained

Matthew James Skelhon[1] (born 30 October 1984) is a British sport shooter.[2] At the 2008 Summer Paralympics he won the gold medal in the SH1 10 metre prone air rifle event.

Life

Skelhon lost the use of his legs following a car accident.[3] He competes in the SH1 Paralympic classification for pistol and rifle competitors that do not require a shooting stand.[4] He started shooting competitively when he joined the Disabled Target Shooting Association of Great Britain in April 2006 after discovering his talent at the WheelPower Inter Spinal Unit Games. Two months later he won a silver medal in the national championships.[5] [6] He became a member of Whittlesey Rifle Club and was named as part of a four-man shooting squad for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.[3]

At the Games Skelhon competed in two events; the men's standing air rifle and the mixed-sex prone air rifle. He finished 18th of 26 athletes in the qualification round of the standing air rifle and did not advance to the medal round.[7] In the qualification round of the prone air rifle Skelhon and Chinese shooter Zhang Cuiping each shot a perfect 600 out of 600 to equal the world record. In the 10-shot medal round Skelhon shot a further 104.9 for a total score of 704.9, enough to beat Zhang by half a point and win the gold medal.[7] [8] [9] On his return from the Games to his home village of Stilton Skelhon was greeted by more than 200 friends, relatives and fans lining streets decked with balloons and banners.[10] In December 2008 he was presented with the Outstanding Individual Achievement award at the 13th annual British Wheelchair Sports Awards.[6]

In 2009 he won a gold medal in the 10 m air rifle prone SH1 and a silver in 10 m air rifle standing SH1 at the Polish Open and four silver medals at the Wheelpower National Shooting Championship.[11] [12] Competing alongside Nathan Milgate and Deanna Coates Skelhon took gold in the team 10 m air rifle prone SH1 at the 2010 World Cup event in Turkey. At the same event he won silver in the individual 10 m air rifle prone SH1 and bronze in the falling target rifle SH1.[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. [General Register Office|GRO]
  2. News: London 2012 launches Paralympic recruitment drive . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/london-2012-launches-paralympic-recruitment-drive-1833673.html . 12 May 2022 . subscription . live . 3 December 2009 . 19 May 2010 . The Independent.
  3. News: Paralympics: Skelhon's mental strength will fire him to glory . 5 September 2008 . 19 May 2010 . The Evening Telegraph (Peterborough).
  4. Web site: Paralympics categories explained . Andrew McGarry . ABC . 3 September 2008 . 19 May 2010.
  5. News: Pupil has his sights set on Beijing paralympics success . 15 July 2008 . 19 May 2010 . The Evening Telegraph (Peterborough).
  6. News: Britain's top wheelchair athletes from the Beijing Paralympics take top honours . https://archive.today/20130505062436/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/paralympicsport/3541675/Britains-top-wheelchair-athletes-from-the-Beijing-Paralympics-take-top-honours-Paralympics.html . dead . 5 May 2013 . 2 December 2008 . 19 May 2010 . The Daily Telegraph . Gareth A. Davies.
  7. Web site: Matt Skelhon . Paralympic.org . .
  8. News: Great Britain team saddle up for gold rush medal showdown with Chinese . https://archive.today/20130505094604/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/paralympicsport/2800229/Great-Britain-team-saddle-up-for-gold-rush-medal-showdown-with-Chinese-Paralympics.html . dead . 5 May 2013 . The Daily Telegraph . 19 May 2010 . 11 September 2008 . Gareth A. Davies.
  9. News: Skelhon wins shooting gold for GB . BBC Sport . 19 May 2010 . 11 September 2008.
  10. News: Village welcomes home golden shot Skelhon . 19 September 2008 . 19 May 2010 . The Evening Telegraph (Peterborough).
  11. News: Shooting: Matt Skelhon strikes gold once again . 31 March 2009 . 19 May 2010 . The Evening Telegraph (Peterborough).
  12. News: Four more medals for Stilton shooting star . 26 June 2009 . 19 May 2010 . The Evening Telegraph (Peterborough).
  13. News: Skelhon wins a full set of World Cup medals . 7 May 2010 . 19 May 2010 . The Evening Telegraph (Peterborough).

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