Jeff Skiba is a police officer

Police officer

A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...

 and a Paralympic

Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...

 athlete

Track and field

Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...

 from the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 competing mainly in category P44 pentathlon events.

Early life

Born without a fibula in his left leg due to fibular hemimelia, doctors amputated his leg below the knee when he was less than a year old. Jeff’s congenital defect hasn’t prevented him from great achievements. In the sixth grade, Jeff tried out for track on his first day at school and so began his athletic career. In high school Jeff joined the track team. At his first meet, he cleared 6’2” in the high jump event.

Sports career

Jeff has consistently placed first, second or third at every high jump event, the majority of which have been able-bodied meets. Not only does he frequently beat his competitors, but the heights he reaches have matched able-bodied world records, as well.

Jeff competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics

2008 Summer Paralympics

The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....

 in Beijing

Beijing

Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...

, China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

. There he won a gold medal in the men's high jump - P44 event, a silver medal in the men's pentathlon - P44 event, finished fifth in the men's javelin - F42/44 event, finished sixth in the men's discus throw - F44 event and finished ninth in the men's Long jump - F42/44 event

Major Achievements

• • 2008: Gold medal, F44/F46 High Jump; silver medal, P44 Pentathlon - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
  • 2008: Unofficial world record, high jump (2.15m) - Asuza Pacific Invitational, Los Angeles
    Los Ángeles
    Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
    
    , Calif.
  • 2007: World record, high jump (2.10m) - U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships, Atlanta, Ga.
  • 2007: First Paralympic athlete to compete at U.S. Indoor Track and Field National Championships
  • 2006: Gold medal, high jump; Fourth place, long jump - IPC World Championships
    IPC Athletics World Championships
    The IPC Athletics World Championships is an event organized by the International Paralympic Committee . Athletes with a physical disability compete, and in a few events athletes with an intellectual disability compete...
    
    , Assen, The Netherlands
  • 2006: Gold medal, pentathlon -U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships, Atlanta, Ga.
  • 2004: Silver medal, high jump -Paralympic Games, Athens, Greece
  • 2002: Gold medal, high jump - IPC Athletics World Championships
    IPC Athletics World Championships
    The IPC Athletics World Championships is an event organized by the International Paralympic Committee . Athletes with a physical disability compete, and in a few events athletes with an intellectual disability compete...
    
    , Lille, France
  • 2002: First place, high jump - International Challenge Track and Field Meet
  • 2002: First place, high jump - Washington State High School Track & Field Championships

External links