Skelhon’s skill and success has led to Paralympic medals and audiences with the Queen and a UK Prime Minister

Stilton’s gold medal-winning rifle shooter is gearing up for a fourth Games appearance, after being named in the Paralympics GB team to compete at the delayed Tokyo 2020 event in August.

His skills and success have led to meetings with Queen Elizabeth II and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

This summer represents a chance for Skelhon to right the wrongs of a turbulent 2016 Games in Rio, where he finished seventh and 11th having won a gold medal at Beijing in 2008 and a silver and a bronze in London four years later.

But the 36-year-old is not piling the pressure on himself and instead wants to make the most of the Games while putting smiles on people’s faces, after a year dominated by COVID-19-inflicted cancellations and disappointments in all aspects of life.

“The disappointment of Rio does make Tokyo more important,” said Skelhon, who is one of more than 1,100 National Lottery-funded elite athletes on UK Sport’s World Class Programme.

“With the time that we’re going through at the moment, I’ll just be happy to go to the Games, enjoy the experience, compete and just do as well as I can really.

“With everything we’re going through it means more than just to go and win.

“Nothing’s really changed in the way I train. I’m still hard at it and wanting to go and win.”

Confirmed to join Skelhon in Tokyo are fellow Games medallist James Bevis, rifle shooters Tim Jeffery, Ryan Cockbill, Lorraine Lambert and pistol shooter Issy Bailey, who also happens to be Skelhon’s partner..

They will be part of a ParalympicsGB team which will consist of around 240 athletes from 19 sports, and Skelhon is confident he can challenge for major honours once more.

Despite the difficulties presented by lockdown on training and with a lack of competition the para shooting star, who won double gold at the most recent World Championships in 2019, has kept his head down and never lost sight of his targets.

Skelhon, who will be bidding to add to the 864 Olympic and Paralympic medals won by Great Britain and Northern Ireland athletes since the advent of National Lottery funding in 1997, added: “I feel great even though it’s been a tough 12 months with lockdown.

“My performance at the last World Championships couldn’t have been any better. I was really happy with that.

“I’ve been able to do some training at home and focus on some other things outside of shooting.

“I’m in a great position now to really train hard for the next few months and be ready to perform in Tokyo.

“It has been a challenge though. I’ve tried to think in my head Tokyo could be the next time we compete rather than getting my hopes up for every competition that might or might not be coming.”

Part of the reason Skelhon has been able to remain focused is the support of The National Lottery, whose players raise around £30 million each week for good causes.

Skelhon has benefitted from UK Sport’s World Class Programme, powered by National Lottery funding, which allows him to train full-time, access the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science and medical support.

“The support of The National Lottery is massive, it’s second to none,” Skelhon added.

“I really don’t think we’d be anywhere near where we are now without it.

“Even during lockdown it’s enabled us to be supported so we can train at home.

“We continued even when the world came to a standstill.

“It’s incredible, not only for us individuals, but also the wider team.”

No one does more to support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes than National Lottery players, who raise around £30 million each week for good causes. Discover the positive impact playing the National Lottery has on sport at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk and get involved by using the hashtags: #TNLAthletes #TracktoTokyo.