Para Shooting

Australia Paralympic shooter Anton Zappelli aims at the target

Para Shooting first appeared in the Paralympics at the 1976 Toronto Games.

At the Paralympic Games, Para shooting is open to athletes with a physical impairment. Athletes compete in rifle or pistol events. World Shooting Para Sport offers competition opportunities in Para trap for athletes with a physical impairment and rifle for athletes with a visual impairment. Shooters with a vision impairment use an audio cue to assist them to aim correctly at the target.

For more information on Para shooting sport Eligibility and How to Get Involved please see the Para shooting Information Sheet (PDF – 109KB) – updated May 2024.

Medal History

1976Toronto
100
1
1980Arnhem
231
6
1984New Tork & Stoke Mandeville
900
9
1988Seoul
310
4
1992Barcelona - Madrid
000
0
1996Atlanta
010
1
2000Sydney
010
1
2004Athens
011
2
2008Beijing
000
0
2012London
001
1
2016Rio de Janeiro
000
0
2020Tokyo
000
0
2024Paris
000
0

Events and Disciplines

The following events are currently contested at the Paralympic Games:

Rifle

10m Air Rifle Standing
10m Air Rifle Prone
Free Rifle
Sport Rifle

Pistol

10m Air Pistol
25m Sport Pistol
50m Free Pistol

Classification

At the Paralympic Games, Shooting Para sport is open to athletes with a physical impairment. World Shooting Para Sport also provide competition opportunities for athletes with a vision impairment. Athletes are required to submit medical reports and meet the minimum impairment criteria in order to compete.

For more information on Eligible Impairments and Classification please see the Para shooting Information Sheet (PDF – 137KB) – updated August 2024.

Rules and Equipment

Rifle and Pistols
Athletes use .22 calibre rifles and air guns (CO2 gas, pneumatic or spring). Upon trigger activation, the CO2 liquid changes to gas and activates the projectile toward the target. The pneumatic rifle uses a multiple pump system to store air pressure in a reservoir and trigger compression activates the projectile toward the target.

Bullets
For 10m Air Rifle and Pistol events, bullets with a diameter of 4.5mm are used. For 25m Pistol events, and 50m Pistol and Rifle events, 5.6mm bullets are used.

Target
The standard target is a cardboard square with concentric white and black rings around a black centre ring (or bullseye). For the Paralympic Games, five different targets are used depending on the type of gun. These targets are electronic for increased accuracy.