Double Paralympic medallist Matt Skelhon paid tribute to the marvellous support he received in the shooting finals at the Royal Artillery Barracks.
After taking the silver in the R3 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 final on Saturday, the 27 year-old was back on the podium on Tuesday, clutching a bronze he won in the R6 50m Rifle Prone SH1 final.
And he said he could never have done it without the support of the great British public.
“The support was amazing,” he said. “I would not have won my two medals without that support. I never had to look at the scoreboard - the cheers told me how well I was doing.”
Although he won gold in Beijing in the 10m Prone and was favourite for a repeat performance four years down the line, Skelhon insisted he was not diappointed.
“I’m never going to be disappointed with that. No one should be disappointed at the Paralympics.
“I came here to win the prone and came away with a silver but I shot a PB and it was a phenomenal competition.
“And to get another medal . . . I’m over the moon with that. I’m dead chuffed to get two medals.”
Jody Cundy from Walpole St Andrew, near Wisbech, was another local medallist.
He won a bronze in the 4km Pursuit on Saturday, bouncing back from his controversial disqualification in the 1km Time Trial 24 hours earlier when officials ruled he had made a faulty start. He was the favourite for gold in that event having won the Olympic title in Beijing.
He has already vowed it will not be his last medal.
“I planned to definitely continue for two years and maybe Rio in 2016,” he said. “But there is unfinished business now.
“Although it’s going to be hard work as I get older, I think it will be well worth it to come back and try and step on the top of the podium again. I have found what happened difficult to comprehend and I want to put it right.”
Swimmer Rob Welbourn from Deeping won a bronze medal in the S10 400m freestyle last night.
He clocked 4.08.18 and was only just beaten by America’s Ian Jaryd Silverman (4.04.91) and Canada’s Benoit Huot (4.06.58).
How our local Paralympians have done so far (to 6th September):
ATHLETICS
Jonnie Peacock
Men’s T44 100m - gold medal
TRACK CYCLING
JODY CUNDY
Men’s Ind.C4-5 1km Time Trial - did not finish.
Men’s Ind. C4 Pursuit - bronze medal.
SHOOTING
Matt Skelhon
Men’s R1-10m Air Rifle Standing-SH1 - 18th.
Mixed R6-50m Rifle Prone-SH1 - bronze medal.
Mixed R3-10m Air Rifle Prone-SH1 - silver medal.
SWIMMING
HARRIET LEE
Women’s 50m Freestyle - S10 - 10th.
Women’s 200m Ind. Medley - SM10 - 7th.
ROB WELBOURN
Men’s 400m Freestyle - S10 - bronze medal.
Men’s 100m Butterfly - S10 - 15th.
Men’s 200m Ind. Medley - SM10 - 9th.
Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points - 5th.
LAUREN STEADMAN
Women’s 50m Freestyle - S9 - 11th.
Women’s 400m Freestyle - S9 - 6th.
Comments