Swindon-based Paralympian Chris Hunt Skelley MBE is aiming to create history as he heads to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Skelley will be competing in the new +90 kilogram weight category in Judo, having won gold in Tokyo three years ago in the under 100-kilogram category.

The visually impaired judoka will be looking to become the first since Simon Jackson, a hero of his, more than 25 years ago to medal in two Paralympic Games across different weight categories.

He said: “It is not an easy feat to do, I am trying to win my second Paralympic Games but I believe that all of the hard work I have done, all the effort that has been put into me, and all the stuff I have had to come through – I believe that makes you and gives me a good chance to do my double.

“An absolute legend of visually impaired Simon Jackson has done it, so I am hoping to match him.

“It would be a huge honour to be level with him, given what he did for visually impaired sport, he is someone to look up to and he has set the standards for everyone.

“At this point, my coach is just pulling me back, he has a massive elastic band around me and he is keeping me ready to go and then he will let me go and do what I love to do – I love judo, it has given me so much and I can’t wait to do it again in Paris.”

Skelley discovered judo after his ocular tanious albinism made competing at other sports dangerous for him and his competitors but has overcome that to compete at three Paralympic Games.

He said: “That young Chris that went through the very tough period in his life where he didn’t see an end if I could go back and tell him he has this and will be going to his third Paralympic Games, I would have bitten his hand off.

“It is a real poignant moment for me to see how far I have and how much I have had to fight to get there.

“That never-say-die attitude that my mum and dad have put into me has really paid dividends.

“What I say to people is that I am not the most talented athlete, but what I have in abundance is the attitude to work hard and the resilience to go and achieve what I want to achieve.”