“It’s great to be into the competition environment, against all the top shooters in the world. It’s exciting, there’s positive stuff to take away.”
It certainly was an exciting event for Para athlete Neelam O’Neill, who scored impressive international PBs in both her events, taking 12th in the world in both the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone and the Women’s 10m Air Pistol.
O’Neill, who has enjoyed shooting since age 7, has spina bifida. Her dream is to represent New Zealand at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. If she does, she will be the first woman to represent New Zealand in Shooting Para sport since Alison Smith in 1984, and first woman ever to represent New Zealand in air pistol at a Paralympic Games. This World Championships have helped to fuel that dream:
“Chuffed! I’ll take home lots of learnings to take home and train on and make things better for next year. I reckon I can come back and smash it!”
Michael Johnson was less pleased with how the Championships went for him. The Waiuku-based Paralympian who has paraplegia following a spinal cord injury explains:
“It didn’t go as expected or planned. I’m not sure what’s going on. So, when I get back to New Zealand, I’m going to do some testing with my rifle and ammunition, see if I can get that a bit more dialled in for the next pinnacle events.”
Not one to dwell on disappointment, Johnson is already thinking about the next competition and has his sights firmly set on Paris 2024:
“I’m looking forward to next year. There are two quota competitions, one in Korea and one in Lima, Peru. I’m hoping to gain a quota so I can get to the next Paralympic Games.”
All NZ results from 2022 Shooting Para Sport World Championships
“It’s great to be into the competition environment, against all the top shooters in the world. It’s exciting, there’s positive stuff to take away.”
It certainly was an exciting event for Para athlete Neelam O’Neill, who scored impressive international PBs in both her events, taking 12th in the world in both the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone and the Women’s 10m Air Pistol.
O’Neill, who has enjoyed shooting since age 7, has spina bifida. Her dream is to represent New Zealand at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. If she does, she will be the first woman to represent New Zealand in Shooting Para sport since Alison Smith in 1984, and first woman ever to represent New Zealand in air pistol at a Paralympic Games. This World Championships have helped to fuel that dream:
“Chuffed! I’ll take home lots of learnings to take home and train on and make things better for next year. I reckon I can come back and smash it!”
Michael Johnson was less pleased with how the Championships went for him. The Waiuku-based Paralympian who has paraplegia following a spinal cord injury explains:
“It didn’t go as expected or planned. I’m not sure what’s going on. So, when I get back to New Zealand, I’m going to do some testing with my rifle and ammunition, see if I can get that a bit more dialled in for the next pinnacle events.”
Not one to dwell on disappointment, Johnson is already thinking about the next competition and has his sights firmly set on Paris 2024:
“I’m looking forward to next year. There are two quota competitions, one in Korea and one in Lima, Peru. I’m hoping to gain a quota so I can get to the next Paralympic Games.”
All NZ results from 2022 Shooting Para Sport World Championships
Peter Cowan ready to take Paris 2024 lessons into World Championships
Paralympian #231 Peter Cowan believes winning bronze at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games proved he can perform when it matters most – an experience he hopes will give him an edge at the ICF Canoe Sprint…
Johnson leads Kiwi trio chasing LA28 opportunity in Changwon
An experienced three-strong New Zealand team led by six-time Paralympian #148 Michael Johnson MNZM has been selected to compete at the Changwon 2026 World Shooting Para Sport World Championships in Korea from 7–16 September. With qualification slots for…
Paralympian #96 Duane Kale PLY ONZM | Trailblazers
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games we focus on the appropriately numbered Paralympian #96 Duane Kale PLY ONZM. The pioneering Paralympian proved a star of the pool at those Atlanta Games…
