Jonathon aims for Rio success
Mulgoa archer Jonathon Milne will send arrows flying to targets in Rio de Janeiro following his selection in the Australian Paralympics team.
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Mulgoa archer Jonathon Milne will send arrows flying to targets in Rio de Janeiro following his selection in the Australian Paralympics team.
Milne’s inclusion in the team to Rio means for the first time in more than a decade, Australia will compete in archery at a Paralympic Games. Australia last had an archer in the Paralympics in 2004.
Milne, 30, who placed fourth in the compound bow open classification at the 2015 World Archer Para Championships, has experienced a whirlwind of a sporting career since taking up the sport in 2014, after acquiring a spinal cord injury just two and a half years earlier.
Having dabbled in the target sport as a teenager, the Paralympic debutant rediscovered his love for archery while enjoying the challenge of mastering the art of his sport as a wheelchair user.
To now become the highest ranked Australian athlete in his class means everything to Milne.
“I feel honoured that I get to represent Australia in the Paralympic Games, and to be the only Australian archer on the team is an amazing feeling,” he said.
“Rio is an opportunity to test yourself and shoot with the best athletes in the world.
“There isn’t a big competition in Para-archery in Australia, and after placing fourth at the Worlds last year, I know I’m more than capable of competing against the best archers with similar disabilities to myself.
“My goal in Rio is to shoot my best and to continue to improve with every shot, I never go into a competition expecting to reach the podium, but with the whole country watching, I really do hope to make Australia proud.”
Australia has won 15 Paralympic medals in the sport including three gold, nine silver and three bronze.
Kate McLoughlin, Chef de Mission of the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team, said Milne’s selection for the 2016 Rio Paralympic team was a great boost for the sport.
“To have Jonathon rise to Paralympic level is a huge testament to his dedication to sport and his drive to succeed.’’
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