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.  

Nathan Milgate said: “It is a great honour to be selected to compete in Beijing it will be a whole new experience for me, being my first Paralympics.

“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.”
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.”