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Three-time Paralympian Jonathon Milne broke four world records in 10 days last month, surpassing benchmarks that had stood for almost two decades.
The Rio 2016 bronze medallist began his record-breaking run at the NSW State Target Championships in Sydney, becoming the first Para archer to surpass the 1400-point barrier in the 1440 round with a score of 1402, improving on his own world record from 2019.
He also eclipsed a record dating back to 2005 at 70 metres, before adding another two world records at the 2026 National Target and Para Championships in Hobart, where his scores of 354 at 50 metres and a perfect 360 at 30 metres displaced marks that had stood since 2007.
The results were a satisfying reflection of what Milne had long known he was capable of achieving, with favourable conditions finally allowing his performances to translate into new world marks.
“I knew I was capable of it. I’ve been close plenty of times before, but weather conditions really dictate whether you’re going to be able to get a record or not,” Milne said.
“You can be in the best form of your life and turn up on a day when there are 20 or 30-kilometre winds, and you don’t have a hope.”
The 1440 round, once a mainstay of international archery, is now contested relatively infrequently, with the NSW State and National Championships providing just two opportunities each year for Australian archers to compete over the format.
For Milne, that scarcity has made the pursuit of records as much a matter of opportunity as execution, particularly in a discipline where even subtle changes in wind direction can alter an arrow’s trajectory.
Despite his achievements, Milne remains more interested in improving his own performances than measuring himself against others.
“I still haven’t shot a perfectly clean round yet, so until I do that, there’s always room for improvement,” he said.
“I never got into the sport to be the best. I do it because I enjoy it and I want to keep getting better and improve my own scores.
“One or two millimetres is enough to win or lose. You can do everything right, think the arrow should go in the middle, and then it’s out by a millimetre and you’ve lost.”
Milne’s performances were among the highlights of a historic national championships, held at the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus from October 19 – 24, where Australia’s Open and Para archers competed at a shared national event for the first time.
The five days of competition brought considerable challenges, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, wind gusts reaching 80 kilometres per hour and heavy rain interrupting the recurve finals.
Among those to navigate the conditions was emerging Para archer Jolly Duong, who enjoyed an impressive national championships debut, winning gold in both the men’s Para recurve and Para recurve doubles alongside Stuart Hume.
“Winning both gold medals in Hobart was a very proud moment,” Duong said.
“The results reflected the hard work, consistency and dedication I have put into training, and I am learning to give myself credit for that.”
Duong also finished 25th in the Open competition and welcomed the opportunity to compete alongside Australia’s wider archery community, while acknowledging the importance of accommodating the different requirements of Para athletes.
“It created a more inclusive competition environment and provided greater visibility for Para archery,” he said.
“I hope this is something that continues, while ensuring that the specific accessibility and support needs of Para athletes remain properly recognised and addressed.”
Other national Para champions included Sonia Withey in the women’s recurve, Ameera Lee in the women’s compound, Christopher Davis in P1 and Craig Newbery in the vision impaired category.
Milne’s attention now turns to the 2027 World Archery Championships on home soil and the longer-term prospect of competing at the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.
While the demands of international competition and commitments beyond sport will inevitably influence how long he continues, the possibility of representing Australia at a home Paralympic Games remains an enticing prospect.
“I’d like to say I’m still going to be around for Brisbane. A home Games would be good,” he said.
Photos: Archery Australia
Your Para Sport Journey
Begins Here
Paralympics Australia is only able to continue doing its work driving the Paralympic Movement forward in Australia because of the generous support it receives from Government, Corporate Partners and donors.
The focus continues to be on delivering teams to each Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and supporting Para athletes as they enter and progress through the Para sport system and into their post-sporting careers.
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