“A Different Kind of Gold: Chris Hunt Skelley MBE on Life, Mental Health and Inclusion
In this special episode of The Bog Cast, Becky is joined by Chris Hunt Skelley MBE, Paralympian, mentor and Loo of the Year Awards Ambassador, for an open, honest and often humorous conversation about his life, sporting journey, disability, mental health and the importance of accessible away-from-home washrooms.
Chris takes us back to his childhood, sharing his experience of being deaf and having a sight condition from birth. He talks candidly about the challenges he faced as a teenager, including developing further problems with his eyesight at just 17. Despite seeking medical help, his concerns were initially not believed. It was only after his father spoke to someone he worked with, who offered to arrange medical support in America, that Chris finally received the diagnosis he needed.
From Judo to the Paralympics
Sport was already an important part of Chris’s life through judo. However, as his eyesight deteriorated, his plans to train as a mechanic were no longer possible. Instead, judo became the pathway that would ultimately take him to the Paralympic Games. Chris reflects on his sporting journey, the determination needed to compete at the highest level and the people who supported him along the way. He also shares how he met his wife, Louise, in Rio. Louise is a Paralympic wheelchair tennis athlete who now regularly commentates for Wimbledon and the BBC. We hear about their first home together in 2019, their much-loved “fluff baby” Milo, and the very different experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. While being unable to train was difficult, it also gave Chris and Louise precious time together after years of busy sporting schedules.
The MBE, Self-Doubt and Mental Health
Chris describes receiving the notification that he was to be awarded an MBE and speaks openly about his feelings, self-doubt and the reality that achievement does not mean life is always easy. One of the most moving parts of the conversation is Chris’s honesty about his mental health. He shares how, in 2024, he experienced a particularly difficult period, including thoughts of ending his life. It is a sensitive but important discussion about recognising mental health challenges and learning to live with and manage them every day. He also talks about retraining, returning to competition and taking part in the Paris Paralympics, before facing another major transition: retirement from elite sport. What would life look like without the structure of training and competition? What would his finances and day-to-day purpose look like?
Finding a New Purpose
Chris explains how mentoring and speaking at events have helped him find a new direction, sharing his experiences and encouraging others. He talks enthusiastically about becoming a Loo of the Year Awards Ambassador. We revisit the first time we met, when Chris had been booked as our keynote speaker. Becky recalls standing between Chris and Charles, who were both talking over the top of her – not deliberately, but perhaps forgetting just how tall they both were! It is a moment that still makes us laugh. Chris also remembers arriving at the Awards and realising just how important the people in the room were. He had not fully appreciated the scale of the industry or how many people work behind the scenes to provide the toilets we all rely on every day.
Why Toilets, Disability and Accessibility Matter
This leads to a fascinating discussion about toilets and the importance of considering people with both visible and hidden disabilities. Chris explains how becoming a Loo Ambassador has changed the way he looks at washrooms. He now finds himself judging toilets wherever he goes! Having travelled internationally, he shares how facilities differ around the world – and admits to having a particular appreciation for Japanese toilets. Toilets are far more than a convenience. They are essential to dignity, independence, confidence and participation in everyday life. For disabled people, the availability, design and standard of facilities can make the difference between being able to go out and enjoy an experience or having to stay at home.
Ambassadorship, Mentoring and a Little Cider!
We finish by discussing Chris’s enthusiasm for being a Loo of the Year Awards Ambassador and how he talks about the role when mentoring in schools, alongside the other charities and causes close to his heart. There is also a little look ahead to a possible visit to Herefordshire to speak with We Are Farming Minds – and the discovery that Chris and Charles share a mutual appreciation for cider!
This is an episode full of honesty, resilience, laughter and important reflections. Chris’s story is about much more than sporting achievements. It is about adapting when life takes an unexpected direction, finding purpose through difficult times, speaking openly about mental health and recognising the importance of inclusion. An inspiring and educational conversation that reminds us why every voice, every experience and every washroom matters.
