Matt Skelhon

Skelhon has represented ParalympicsGB at three consecutive Paralympic Games, winning gold and equalling the world record on his debut in Beijing less than two years after starting his competitive career.

Skelhon began shooting as a hobby when he was 11 years-old and started competing in 2006 after attending the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Games. Within 18 months he had secured a place on the British team for the Beijing 2008 Games, where he competed in the 10m air rifle prone mixed SH1.

The Peterborough-born shooter missed out on defending his title at London 2012 by just 0.3 points and had to settle for silver instead; he did however add an unexpected bronze to his collection in the 50m rifle prone mixed SH1 – an event he had taken up just 18 months before the Games.

Despite setting a new Paralympic record in qualification, it wasn’t to be at Rio 2016 as he finished seventh in the mixed 50m rifle prone SH1 shooting final.

Skelhon has excelled at World and European Championships – most recently claiming double World Championship gold in 2019 in Australia, registering a world record score in the process.

More recently at the 2023 World Championships in Peru, Skelhon topped the podium again in the Mixed SH1 rifle class by besting Germany’s Natascha Hiltrop.

2012 London Paralympic Games

• R3 10m air rifle prone mixed SH1: Silver
• R6 50m air rifle prone mixed SH1: Bronze

2008 Beijing Paralympic Games

• R3 10m air rifle prone mixed SH1: Gold

2023 World Championships, Lima

• 50m air rifle prone mixed SH1: Gold