Zak Skinner targets long jump medal at Para Athletics European Championships

He is a DJ, student and sportsman all rolled into one but Zak Skinner is desperate to hit the right notes at next week’s Para Athletics European Championships.

The 19-year-old is all set to take on Europe’s best when competition gets under way in Berlin, competing in the T13 100m, long jump and mixed relay in Germany.

The teenager made his World Championship bow at London 2017 and is determined to put his experience to good use as he continues his bid for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic qualification.

“Last year was my first big event so I didn’t know how I was going to handle that sort of atmosphere,” he said.

“I think I handled it quite well and my results that came out. It was more of a learning curve and it did end up that we got really close to a medal in the long jump.

“Whereas this year, I’m going and expecting more which I know I’m confident and comfortable in because I got those results out there. I’m going in hopefully going to be bringing home a medal.

“It’s always a massive honour for me to put on that GB vest and represent your country and all the people that are in it.

“Although I’m not closed off to the idea that that could not happen, so I’m not going to put all my eggs in one basket and then watch them all fall out if I don’t get a medal even.

“So, I’m going in wanting to win and then I’m hopefully going to bring home a medal in that.”

Jumping just ten centimetres shy of this year’s European lead, Skinner’s ambitions are certainly not out of reach for an athlete still en-route to his very best.

Indeed, this season is already one that has seen vast improvement, reaching a personal best of 6.75m this year while consistently pushing the boundaries of his 100m performance.

Belief is certainly his but it’s not to be confused with complacency for a man who still knows there is some way to go in his sporting career.

“When you’re at that level which is probably one step off the pinnacle of your sport, you go ‘wow, this is incredible’,” he added.

“You definitely have to start seeing yourself as not a normal 18-19 year old but a professional athlete. You’ve got to live your life to those sort of standards.

“I’ve got a job to do and although you may want to be there at the time, nothing will beat feeling of hopefully becoming like a European, world or Paralympic champion so it’s worth the sacrifices.”

The Para Athletics European Championships starts on August 20 with 51 athletes heading out to Berlin to represent British Athletics.

Four time Paralympic medallist Libby Clegg and Richard Chiassaro have been voted as GB team captains by their team-mates, though the former won’t be competing due to an injury to her guide, Tom Somers.

British Athletics enjoyed their most success WPA European Championships in 2016, picking up 56 medals with plenty of athletes out to defend their titles.

Aled Davies will be going for gold in the F63 shot put and discus while Sophie Hahn, Holli Arnold, Hannah Cockcroft and Richard Whitehead will also be in medal contention.