- Saturday, 11 June 2016
Beijing 2008 gold medallist Matt Skelhon headlines Great Britain’s 10-strong shooting team for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
The 31-year-old will head into his third Paralympics as the most decorated shooter on the team having also won a silver and a bronze medal at London 2012.
Skelhon won the mixed 10 metre air rifle prone SH1 at Beijing 2008 before coming second in the same event at London 2012, the scene of her bronze medal-winning performance in the mixed 50m rifle prone SH1.
He has since won mixed 50m rifle prone SH1 gold at the 2014 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Shooting World Championships in German city Suhl with a world record score of 209.5.
"Representing your country at a Paralympic Games is such an honour and I am absolutely delighted to be selected to the team for Rio," said Skelhon.
"It makes all of the hours of training so worthwhile.
"The level of competition is rising and it can all come down to one shot, so I’ll need to be on top of my game in September."
Skelhon is joined on the team by James Bevis, the London 2012 bronze medallist in the mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2, as well as Paralympic debutants Issy Bailey, Owen Burke, Lorraine Lambert and Stewart Nangle.
Karen Butler will be the most experienced British shooter in Rio de Janeiro with four Paralympic appearances already under her belt since making her debut at Barcelona 1992.
London 2012 bronze medallist James Bevis has also been selected ©onEdition
"I’ve had my sights set on Rio from the moment I finished competing at London 2012, so I couldn’t be happier to know I’ve got my place booked on the plane for Rio," she said.
London 2012 bronze medallist James Bevis has also been selected ©onEdition
"I’ve had my sights set on Rio from the moment I finished competing at London 2012, so I couldn’t be happier to know I’ve got my place booked on the plane for Rio," she said.
"The support I’ve had back at home has been incredible and it makes all the difference.
"I hope I can go out there and make everyone proud."
Completing the team are rifle shooters Ryan Cockbill, Richard Davies and Ben Jesson, all of whom return to the fold for their second Paralympic Games.
"This announcement is the culmination of years of hard work from these athletes, and I’m very proud of their contribution to this sport," said team leader Pasan Kularatne.
"We have enjoyed great success this cycle, with countless World Cup medals but the highlight must be a world title for Matt Skelhon with a world record score.
"We know just how high the standard of competition is internationally, so we will make sure we have everything covered in our preparations for the Games."
Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, said: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome these athletes to ParalympicsGB and would like to congratulate them on their selection to the team.
"This sport demonstrates incredible strength in depth and all of these athletes have proved themselves by delivering consistent results in international competition, giving us real confidence heading into the Games."
The announcement brings the number of selected British athletes to a total of 91, across the sports of sailing, judo, table tennis, powerlifting, wheelchair rugby, women’s wheelchair basketball, swimming and shooting.
Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl
Source - http://www.insidethegames.biz/
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