Cambridgeshire shooter Matt Skelhon aiming to be 'fantastic role model' for next generation
He's gunning for gold in the Paris Paralympics, which start tonight
A shooter from Cambridgeshire believes more coverage of sports like his can help inspire the next generation of talent to come through.
Matt Skelhon will be looking to add more medals to those he won in Beijing in 2008 and London 12 years ago when he competes in the R3 10m air rifle prone and R6 50m air rifle prone competitions in France.
Skelhon, president at Whittlesey Rifle Club, believes there isn't enough awareness of other disability sports like shooting.
"In that four-year period in between Games, some sports especially target shooting are almost forgotten; we don't get the media coverage that say athletics, cycling and swimming get," he said.
"It would be good to see the profile of some of the lesser-known sports make it to the foreground more."
Skelhon a 'fantastic role model'
Skelhon, 39, will be gunning for gold in his first event on Sunday, before he's due to compete in the R6 50m air rifle prone discipline next Thursday.
Writer and actor David Proud, who's also the disability officer at Whittlesey Rifle Club, said "the club is incredibly proud of Matt's achievements.
"He is a fantastic role model for the sport."
Skelhon, who was left paralysed after a car accident, hopes his performance at the Games can be a reason for others to get involved in sport.
"I hope I can be inspiring to people and show you can overcome anything that's thrown in front of you with the right attitude," Skelhon added.
"I can't be down there as much as I used to be but after the Games, I want to make as much time as I can to get over to the club, and then hopefully rather than hearing the stories, seeing the person might be more inspiring to people as well.
"I think I try to have the outlook that there are no restrictions; if I come across something, I'll find a way around it, there's always a way."
The opening ceremony for the Paris Paralympics takes place tonight.