It’s a process Chris Skelley is now used to – being selected by ParalympicsGB to represent his country in judo.
The soon-to-be three-time Paralympian insists the feeling of receiving a call-up doesn’t become any less special.
“Surreal. When I started off on this journey I didn’t think I would be a Paralympian,” said Skelley.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I was in a bit of limbo when I first started this journey and then to be called a three-time Paralympian is quite special.”
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Chris Skelley changed his life through judo
At the age of 17 Skelley’s eyesight began to deteriorate. Eventually caused him to abandon an apprenticeship to become a mechanic at the age of 18. At 19, he was eventually diagnosed with oculocutaneous albinism.
“It basically means I’m affected by the light so I have to wear my sunglasses a lot,” he said.
“I also wear contact lenses underneath my sunglasses because I’ve got really bad photophobia and also Bell’s reflex which means my eyes go to the back of my head when any bit of light hits it.
What is blind judo?
The rules are the same as non-disabled judo, with one exception. Visually impaired participants start competing gripped together, as opposed to the off-grip technique for non-disabled competitors.
“It means on competition day when it’s really bright and I don’t have my sunglasses on, it’s a really tough day. I’m fatigued and tired because my eyes are straining to see where I’m going and I’m also trying to fight a big burly bloke on the other end of my arms. So then even that’s getting harder!”
As well as his job, Skelley had to stop playing rugby, meaning judo was the only constant in his life during this period.
“Judo, for me, has been the one thing that’s kept me going. It has saved me and I don’t know where I would be without it. I just want to give back to it now because I think it’s such an amazing sport for people,” he said.
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Skelley is hunting for a second gold medal at Paris 2024
The sport has a chance to give back to Skelley once again, he hopes, in the form of another gold medal after achieving the same feat in Tokyo in 2021.
“That’s the motivating factor,” he declared. “I never dreamt of being just a Paralympic champion so to be double would just be a dream come true and a pinch yourself moment.”
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