Chris Hunt Skelley MBE PLY

Former World Number 1 and Paralympic Judoka Champion, Chris Hunt Skelley MBE PLY is a talented sportsman who has developed a remarkable career in the sporting industry. Having struggled for many years to get diagnosed with his visual impairment, the realisation that he had Ocular Albinism allowed him to overcome this issue and focus on creating a successful career. Now admired for his driven mindset, Chris is highly sought-after to speak on topics such as resilience, diversity, and teamwork at events internationally.

Having struggled with his vision from a young age, Chris was not diagnosed until the age of 19. Entering a dark place mentally after the diagnosis, he learnt to focus his anger on sport and developed a passion for VI Judo (Visually Impaired Judo). Helping him escape his daily challenges, Chris trained alongside potential Olympians which helped him gain confidence and allowed him to become part of the team. Since competing professionally, Chris has won numerous medals, including winning silver medals at five IBSA World Cup events, being ranked world number one in the 100kg category, and winning gold at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Outside of his Judo career, Chris has become the proud ambassador of Phoenix Enterprises, a role which allows him to support the community with mental health and learning disabilities. Determined to create positive change throughout society, he also delivered food parcels to vulnerable members of the community during lockdown, which saw him win the UK Sports Social Impact award at the PLx award evening. A respected individual, Chis has utilised his status to educate audiences on the importance of helping others whenever possible, having felt alone throughout a difficult period in his life.

Admired throughout his sporting industry, Chris Hunt Skelley MBE PLY is now in high demand to attend speaking engagements internationally. Passionate to share his journey with a wide audience, he tailors his appearances to ensure that audience members leave feeling empowered and educated on a variety of topics. When looking to hire a talented sports speaker, look no further than Chris.