ParalympicsGB has today named the four shooting athletes set to represent Britain at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Beijing.
The four-strong team includes multi-Games medallist Deanna Coates, who made her Games debut in Seoul in 1988 and has since won five Paralympic medals – three of them gold.
Fifty-four year-old Hampshire shooter Coates is joined in the squad by 21-year-old Nathan Milgate from Herne Bay, 23-year-old Matt Skelhon from Peterborough and 31-year-old James Bevis from Hereford, who will all be making their Paralympic Games debuts this summer.
Britain was allocated places for the shooting competitions at the Paralympics based on the performances of British athletes at key international competitions throughout 2006 and 2007.
“The training over the next few months will be very hectic with forthcoming training camps for the whole squad, but it will be good preparation for the Games. The training schedule should put my in good stead for performing at my best at the games, and hopefully in the running for a medal.”
Great Britain National Coach and Performance Manager, Colonel Pasan Kularatne said: “I am pleased with the progress and success of the whole GB disabled shooting squad to date. The selection of these athletes is testament to their commitment and dedication and we are confident that they will do their best in Beijing.
“Everyone involved with Disability Target Shooting Great Britain (DTSGB) is looking forward to a successful Paralympic Games, not just for our shooters but for the ParalympicsGB team as a whole.”‘I am pleased with the progress and success made by GB Disabled shooters so far due to their commitment and dedication, and the support I received from all coaches, support staff, committee of DTSGB, BPA, BPPS and UK Sport. We are looking forward for Beijing'
ParalympicsGB Chief Executive Phil Lane, said: “I am pleased to welcome these four shooting athletes into the ParalympicsGB team for the Beijing Paralympic Games.
“All four have performed tremendously well at qualification events over the last year to be selected for the ParalympicsGB team and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on their selection, an achievement for which they should all be very proud.”
Some of the world’s most successful Paralympic shooters have come from Britain, including Paralympic champion Isabel Newstead MBE, who won three shooting gold medals. Isabel, who also won Paralympic golds in swimming and athletics, sadly passed away at the beginning of 2007 following a long illness.
The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games opens on September 6 and closes on September 17. The shooting events at the Games take place at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall and will run from September 7 to 12.
At the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games Britain finished second in the medal table with a total of 35 golds, 30 silver and 29 bronze medals. With competitive standards continually rising and the dominant Chinese team taking the home advantage ParalympicsGB recognises that the 2008 Paralympics will be one of its biggest challenges yet.
