Paralympian #148 Michael Johnson MNZM claimed a second silver medal at the Changwon 2026 WSPS World Championships, missing out on gold by just 0.1 points in a captivating R5 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone final.
The six-time Paralympian, who clinched silver in the R4 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2 event on Thursday, produced another masterful display to total 254.6 in the eight-person final, finishing narrowly behind Serbia’s Dragan Ristic.
Although the second-place finish meant Johnson narrowly missed out on a LA28 Paralympic Games quota spot, the three-time Paralympic medallist can be immensely proud of his efforts. The silver takes the 52-year-old Kiwi’s World Championship medal tally to seven across an outstanding 20-year span.
Johnson said: I’m feeling exhausted. It’s been a full-on competition but making the R5 final was exceptional and exciting. Qualification was so tough and intense and to then battle in the final and almost win gold is awesome. To come away with two silver medals is hard to beat. It shows me my training has paid off.”
Johnson started qualification a little below par but built into the session to advance with a fifth best score of 638.5. He then served notice of his medal intentions with a pair of 10.8s in his opening 10 shots to move into provisional bronze.
Following the elimination of the second Para athlete from the final after 14 shots, Johnson’s unerring accuracy had elevated him to second as he consistently recorded scores of 10.6 and 10.7.
He had closed to within 0.3 of Ristic after 16 shots and, by the 20-shot mark, the Waiuku-based shooter was level with the Serbian, following successive scores of 10.6 and 10.7.
With Justine Beve of France confirmed in bronze after 22 shots, Ristic held a slender 0.3 advantage. Johnson responded with a brilliant 10.8 on his penultimate shot to close the gap to 0.2, setting up a thrilling finale.
With the gold medal hanging in the balance, Ristic registered a 10.4 with his final shot. Johnson responded with a 10.5, but it was not quite enough to overhaul the Serbian, who held on to claim gold by the narrowest of margins.
“Ahead of my final shot the audience all started a slow hand clap,” Johnson explains. “I knew I needed to take my time, but you still feel rushed because the other competitors have taken their final shot and I only had 30 seconds. I just tried to stay focused and as relaxed as I could, follow my processes. I missed out by 0.1 but that’s shooting.
Reflecting further on winning double silver at Changwon 2026 he said: “I’m proud and excited and super stoked for my support team of Sonja Bencina, the team manager, and Janelle McGirr the loader. There is no way I would have achieved the results I have without them. A huge thanks to HSPNZ and Paralympics New Zealand and all their staff for supporting me.”
Aiming for a seventh Paralympic Games at LA28, which would be the most Games appearances of any New Zealand Paralympian, Johnson’s double medal haul underlines his credentials as the countdown to the Games marks 700 days to go.
***For full results go here.
