August 23rd 2024.
Zak Skinner was born blind, but at the age of two, he developed limited vision. As an athlete, he understands the struggles that come with injuries, but unfortunately, he has dealt with them far too often. Being on the treatment table has become all too familiar for Zak, and it's not something he enjoys. He represents Team GB in the Paralympics, competing in both the T13 long jump and 100m events. However, his journey has been filled with obstacles, but Zak takes pride in his ability to overcome them.
Growing up in Kent, Zak faced challenges due to his ocular albinism, a genetic eye condition that severely impaired his vision from a young age. Despite this, he never let it hold him back. In fact, during his time at University, he even started his own events company to book himself as a DJ when nightclubs refused to take him. Now, at 25 years old, he is preparing for his second Paralympic Games, despite facing a knee injury just four months before the competition.
Reflecting on his struggles, Zak shared, "The only thing that made it bearable was knowing that there was nothing I could have done differently. All I could do was stay focused and push through." Those two or three months of rehab were physically and mentally challenging, but Zak found solace in his hobbies of videography and photography, as well as the support of his fellow athletes.
Being one of the 1,000 full-time athletes funded by the National Lottery, Zak trains alongside other renowned athletes such as Katrina Johnson-Thompson and Jazmine Sawyers. He considers himself lucky to have trained with them for a few years now, especially during times of injury. He shared, "Having seen Kat come back from an Achilles rupture and become world champion was truly inspiring. It gave me hope and motivation to keep going. Having someone who understands and can relate to what you're going through is invaluable."
Despite his injury setbacks, Zak has plenty of reasons to be optimistic for the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris. He is a double European Para gold medallist, and in 2023, he won bronze in the long jump at the World Para Athletics Championship. Just last month, he even set a new national record in the 100m event with a time of 10.84 seconds.
Zak's main focus is on the long jump, and he is determined to make a comeback at this year's Paralympics. In Tokyo, he narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, losing to American athlete Isaac Jean-Paul by just 2 centimetres. "Those moments definitely ate away at me for a while, but I chose to use them as motivation and fuel for my fire. I've experienced the high of winning at the European level, but also the low of coming fourth at the biggest event of our sport," shared Zak.
With his eyesight, navigating the long jump and its precise measurements can be challenging. Zak can only see the faint outline of the take-off board when he is two meters away, so he relies heavily on the rhythm of his run-up to execute a successful jump. "You can see how many able-bodied athletes foul in their event, so it's definitely the most challenging thing I've had to overcome due to my impairment," he explained.
Sporting a unique mullet hairstyle like his father, former England rugby player Mickey Skinner, Zak has left the travel arrangements for his support group of friends and family to his mother. However, he is confident that he can thrive in front of what will likely be the biggest crowd of his career. "I enjoy high-pressure and intense environments, especially with a big crowd. It brings out the best in me," Zak shared. "I just have to stay calm before the competition, so I can soak it all in and use it to my advantage."
Zak's success as a Paralympian would not have been possible without the support of National Lottery players. Over £300 million has been invested in athletics in the UK, supporting both grassroots sports and elite athletes like Zak. A new documentary, "Path to Paris: Paralympic Dreams," airing on Channel 4, will follow five British athletes as they prepare for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and showcase how National Lottery players have helped them on their journey.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
