Matt Skelhon

Shooting Para sport

Region

Peterborough
Date of Birth

30/10/1984
Classification

SH1

Bio

Matt Skelhon wrote his name into the ParalympicsGB history books in 2008 when he became the first male shooting gold medallist since Peter Haslam in 1980.

Paris 2024 will be his fifth consecutive Games since his golden debut in 2008, where he fashioned a memorable red-tipped mohawk hairstyle and equalled the world record with a perfect 600 score in qualifying en route to top the podium in the 10m air rifle prone SH1.

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 made the Paralympic squad for Beijing.

The Peterborough-born shooter missed out on defending his title at London 2012 by just 0.2 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.

Skelhon has excelled at World and European Championships – he claimed 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.

Away from the range, Matt enjoys fishing.

Major Results

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

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