Michael Johnson

Started: He began target shooting in 2002. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2012) Reason: He wanted a hobby after his accident and chose shooting after seeing a brochure for Parafed Auckland Shooting Club in New Zealand. He was not serious about the sport at first but losing encouraged him to improve. "I didn't like that feeling, and it spurred me on to be better. I decided right there and then I didn't want to be the person in second place." (Athlete, 05 Dec 2012; disabilitytv.com, 01 Jan 2008; paralympics.org.nz, 01 Aug 2017) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games. (stuff.co.nz, 13 Mar 2024; paralympics.org.nz, 13 Mar 2024) Milestones: At the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, he became the first New Zealander to win a Paralympic gold medal in shooting Para sport when he triumphed in the air rifle standing SH2 open event in Athens. Four years later, he won bronze in the same event to become the first New Zealander to win more than one shooting Para sport medal at the Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 21 Jul 2024) Awards: He was named the Sport Performer of the Year at the 2015 Attitude Awards in Auckland, New Zealand. (stuff.co.nz, 04 Dec 2015) He was New Zealand's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. (paralympic.org, 15 May 2012) He was given the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2011 for his services to Paralympic sport. (Athlete, 17 May 2012; gg.govt.nz, 03 Aug 2011) He won the MVP award at the 2007 Jikji Cup in the Republic of Korea after winning all four events he entered. (melrosechairs.co.nz, 15 May 2011) Additional Info: RECORD SIXTH GAMES The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris will be his sixth Games, meaning he will equal the record for most Paralympic appearances for New Zealand [6] set by multisport athlete Graham Condon between 1968 and 1988. "I remember competing in shooting Para sport at my first Paralympic Games alongside a fellow New Zealander Paralympian, Colin Willis, who made his fifth appearance thinking there is no way I'll still be competing 20 years later. So, to be set for my sixth Paralympic Games appearance is a great milestone and proves that age is no barrier, so long as you continue to perform well." (paralympics.org.nz, 01 Jun 2024) COACHING He began to focus on coaching after the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He coaches Neelam O'Neill, who was also selected for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. "I took up coaching because I get a great thrill from watching others succeed. To see Neelam qualify for the team for Paris makes me very proud and is rich reward for all her hard work and dedication to her craft." He originally got into coaching as he felt New Zealand needed more shooting Para sport athletes. "When I started the sport, I was the only athlete in New Zealand and I just thought we need more shooters. So I've been just trying to promote it and have been coaching people, trying to get them in." He has combined his roles as coach and athlete at international competitions. "I do better when I'm distracted. I'll be running an event, and coaching, and shooting, and setting everything up. But I end up doing better rather than if I was just focusing on shooting." (rnz.co.nz, 12 Jul 2024; paralympic.org, 30 Jun 2017, 02 May 2018) OTHER ACTIVITIES In 2022 he was appointed as the Paralympics New Zealand [PNZ] shooting Para sport programme lead. He has also served as a shooting Para sport athlete liaison officer for the International Paralympic Committee [IPC], and as president of Parafed Auckland Shooting Club in New Zealand. "My goal is to grow and develop shooting Para sport, so we see more people participating both at club level and at international competitions and Paralympic Games." (insidethegames.biz, 29 May 2022, 09 Dec 2014; paralympic.org, 2017; paralympics.org.nz, 15 Apr 2015)