Sports Summary

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 Shooting Para-sport Eligibility and How to Get Involved please see the Para-shooting Information Sheet (PDF – 137KB) – updated November 2021.

Events & 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 November 2021.

Rules & Equipment

Rifles 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.

Medal History

Year Gold Silver Bronze total
1976 1 0 0 1
1980 2 3 1 6
1984 9 0 0 9
1988 3 1 0 4
1996 0 1 0 1
2000 0 1 0 1
2004 0 1 1 2
2012 0 0 1 1

Contacts

National Federation
Organisation Website
Shooting Australia shootingaustralia.org/home