Chris Hunt Skelley MBE Announces Retirement from Judo

Paralympic Champion Chris Hunt Skelley MBE Announces Retirement from Competitive Judo

The British Judo community and the international sporting world come together to celebrate Chris Hunt Skelley MBE, Paralympic Champion and one of Britain’s most accomplished judokas, as he officially announces his retirement from competitive judo.

Chris, a trailblazer in the sport, is stepping away after a stellar career that includes a Paralympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020, a bronze medal at Paris 2024, and numerous European and World Championship accolades.

Reflecting on his decision, Chris stated, “It’s been a tough decision for me to make, but it’s the right decision for me as a whole, and I am moving on to the next chapter of my life. It’s time for me to stop competitive judo and move on and see what else is out there in the world for me.

“It’s been a back-and-forth decision, but it’s the right decision. I get to be with my wife every day, I get to go and just be a husband, be a son, be a friend, and that’s really important to me as well.

“I’ve loved this chapter. It’s been an incredible honour, training here at the National Training Centre in Walsall.”

Born in Hull, Chris began his judo journey at the age of five. At 17, his eyesight began to deteriorate, and he was later diagnosed with Oculocutaneous Albinism, a rare genetic condition, at 19 years old.

To pursue his dreams, Chris relocated to Walsall, training full-time at the British Judo National Training Centre. Despite the challenges life presented him, he displayed remarkable determination. He made his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016, just five years after his diagnosis, and became the European Champion, earned two World Championship bronze medals, achieved the world number one ranking in the -100kg category in 2019, and claimed a Paralympic bronze at Paris 2024. His crowning moment came in 2021 when he secured Paralympic gold at the Tokyo Games.

Reflecting on his proudest achievements in the sport, Chris shared: “My first world medal, after I dislocated my hip and I came back in three weeks, that story has been told many times, and I will live off that, but that’s one of them for me. Me not listening to anyone and knowing that I wanted to be a Paralympian so much, and I wanted to represent my country at the highest level. And you know, I managed to go and do that.

“Winning a gold medal in Tokyo was just an unreal moment in my life. To be able to call myself a champion in one of the toughest sports is a huge honour. And then obviously the bronze medal in Paris, I think again, the lead up into Paris was one of the toughest I’ve had in my whole career. It wasn’t the perfect preparation, but I was very confident in my ability and what I could do.

“I think they’re the three most amazing moments in my career, but I think there’s a fourth one and that’s the people you meet along the way. A lot of people see me at the top of the podium but don’t see the people behind it, and I’ve made a lot of friends. I count some of my mate’s family, and they are always going to be in my life.”

Off the mat, Chris has been an inspiring figure. He serves as an ambassador for the charity Phoenix Enterprises and supported vulnerable individuals during the COVID-19 lockdown by delivering food parcels and offering help to those in need. His commitment to community service earned him the UK Sport Social Impact Award at the PLx Awards in 2020. Chris is also a mentor with the True Athlete Project, which aims to improve mental health and well-being in sports.

“After three cycles back-to-back, and your body going through a lot of trauma and a lot of difficult moments and coming back from injury, it was a tough decision, but it was the right decision.

“Also, I’ve come out of this sport in pretty reasonable shape, not too many injuries that will haunt me.

“I love this sport. This sport has been here when I needed it, this sport dragged me out of a dark period of my life. It’s the one constant thing in my life.”

Chris’s retirement marks the conclusion of an extraordinary athletic career and the beginning of a new chapter. He remains committed to giving back to the sport, mentoring future athletes, and helping others who are experiencing tough times in their lives, guiding them through it with the sport that he says “saved his life.”

“I‘m going back to the fundamentals of the sport, going to help the next generation achieve their dreams. I think athletes can get on the treadmill where they just keep trying to get to the next games and just keep trying to win it.

“I think at some point you’ve got to be brave enough to go, I’m done with that, and that’s this time for me.

“I‘m looking to do mentoring outside of judo, to help people who, like me, had a really tough time in their lives and need that hand around their shoulder. And just go, you’ve got this.

“That’s what I’m going to be doing, spreading the word about my journey through this amazing sport and how Judo saved my life.”

Nigel Donohue, British Judo Performance Director, praised Chris for his remarkable career, “As Chris calls time on his competition career, I reflect on his journey over the last 15 years. Chris was originally a member of our ENG programme and when I first met him, he instantly came across as a genuine, hard-working and respectful person, qualities that are deeply embedded in his character, that I have seen him never lose, but grow as a person over the last 15 years.

“Chris was one of our original athletes to come onto the WCPP when we centralised in late 2013 and has been instrumental in shaping our environment over his time on the programme.

“Chris is a fantastic leader and role model for all aspiring Olympic and Paralympic athletes, both on and off the mat. There are very few athletes who work as hard as he does, commit as he does and at the same time, remain humble, grounded and respectful to all those in our sport, both domestically and internationally and the wider sporting system.

“Chris has had a fantastic career, where he has had to overcome adversity, whether it be through classification or injury, but he has always remained focussed, optimistic and dedicated to his programme, despite the challenges he faced.

“I have watched him with pride win the European Championships, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and his Bronze medal in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games as well as numerous medals on the IBSA World tour over the last 12 years.

“I have also watched him when he has had disappointments, notably finishing 5th at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, which has driven him to become the World-Class athlete he has become today.

“I have witnessed very few athletes who are as dedicated and as professional as Chris and those credentials will take Chris far, in the next chapter of his life.

“I would like to personally thank Chris for his time on the WCPP as it has been a privilege for myself and for all those who have worked with him.

“Chris, all the very best in the next chapter, and it goes without saying that there is always a special place for you in British Judo.”

Paralympic Head Coach Ian Johns reflected on his time with Chris, “I first met Skel in 2011 when I went over to Haltemprice Judo Club for some randori. The club coaches at the time said, ‘This kid is going to be good.‘ I remember he tried to throw me with his famous tomoenage—he was miles off!!

“Fast forward to 2012, and I took him to the Paralympic Inspiration Program at the London Paralympic Games. He was adamant that he would make it to the Games.

“I have never seen a person so motivated!

“In 2014, I was employed as the Paralympic head coach, and so began a 10-year journey of raising the standards every single day, pushing himself to be the best he could be, and achieving some of the greatest accolades the sport has to offer.

“His attention to detail over the years and his constant thirst for knowledge have made him both a dream to work with and a nightmare!!

“I have enjoyed every minute of working with Skel, and I’m going to miss him. But the time is right, and he is retiring as a king of the sport, having attained multiple European, World, and Paralympic medals.

“Hopefully, there is a place for him to develop and inspire the next generation of Paralympic fighters.

“In my humble opinion, he is one of the best fighters we have ever had, with the biggest heart—a heart that just wants everyone to love our sport as much as he does.

“Take a bow, Skel—you did it. You took your chance and created history!”

As Chris transitions to this new phase, he leaves behind a legacy of excellence, and resilience – a true champion in every sense of the word.

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