Ex-Jack Hunt students lead the chase for Gold

Jack Hunt School could soon be celebrating two Paralympic gold medals for former students.

Rower James Fox and basketball star Lee Manning both attended the city school and both are tipped to win gold at the Tokyo Games which started on Wednesday.

Peterborough Nene Valley athlete Lydia Church and Stilton shooter Matt Skelhon are also taking part in Tokyo and they also have decent chances of a medal.

Fox should be the first to compete for Gold when he will help defend a mixed coxed quad title GB won decisively in Rio in 2016. The heats take place tomorrow (Friday) with the final on Sunday.

Fox is the only surviving member of the Rio crew, but the new line-up will enter the contest as hot favourites for gold having added the European crown in May to their World Championship glory in 2019 when the British quartet set the current world record time of 6:49.240 at the semifinal stage.

Incredibly GB are unbeaten in this event for 11 years! Fox was recently awarded an MBE for his serv

ice to the sport.

Fox said: “Our aim in Tokyo is to win, but also to set a world record. A lot of people would find it easy to get a bit comfortable and go slower, but we try and push standards to be better than anybody there’s ever been. That’s why we turn up at 7am and go out in the cold and wet in winter.”

Manning is part of the world ranked number one GB wheelchair basketball team who start a run of five group

games against Algeria today (Thursday) with the final scheduled for September 5.

Manning was a key points scorer when GB won the world title in 2018.

“A little more responsibility might fall on my shoulders this time,” Manning said. “But I’m ready for that and I will do everything I can to support the team.”

Skelhon won a shooting Gold in Beijing in 2008 and won a silver and bronze at the

London Games in 2012. He is competing in two events.

Church will compete in the F12 shot put category for visually impaired athletes. She made her name on the international stage earlier this year when winning European Championship silver. A repeat of her career best throw would give here a chance of a medal.

“I’m just happy and proud to be taking part,” Church said. “Becoming an Olympian is a dream come true.”

James Fox receives his MBE from the Queen in 2019. Photo: Yui Mok