Zak Skinner is seeking greater consistency after finishing fourth for the second consecutive time in the men’s T13 long jump at the Paralympic Games.
The 25-year-old from Sevenoaks narrowly missed the podium at Paris 2024, jumping 6.83m, just shy of a medal. Skinner had previously finished in the same position at the Tokyo Paralympics, as Azerbaijan’s Orkhan Aslanov retained his title.
“It’s tough, I’ve been here before,” Skinner said. “It happened in Tokyo, so at least I’m consistent. It hurts, but I was beaten today, and that’s fine. I gave everything, but the others were better.”
Competing as part of UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, Skinner had prepared for medal-winning distances but couldn’t surpass the 7.20m needed for a podium finish. His best jump came on his first attempt, but with three fouls among his six tries, he couldn’t replicate his performance as last year’s world bronze medallist.
Skinner, who also placed sixth in the men’s 100m final, emphasized the importance of consistency in the sport. “Uninterrupted training leads to success, and once I get that consistency at this high level, I know I’ll improve,” he said.
Reflecting on the season, he described it as “anti-climactic” but saw the Games as a learning experience, which he plans to carry into future competitions.
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