A hobby that turned into a Paralympic journey: Jonathon Milne's story

ATHLETE: Jonathon Milne 

SPORT: Para Archery 

PROUDEST MOMENT: Winning the Bronze medal in Rio, which was made more special by having family and friends there. 

WORDS OF WISDOM: “We [compound archers] always say to each other as we’re going to shoot a match, ‘Don’t suck’... You’ve got to have a bit of fun.” 

Finding himself a bit bored in recovery after his accident, Jonathon Milne took up archery because it was something to “keep him occupied.” What started as a way to pass the time led him to three Paralympic Games, including Paris 2024. 

Having made a few bows and arrows out of the bush growing up, archery looked like a bit of fun – or at least technical enough to keep Jonathon’s mind busy.  Competing internationally and in the Paralympics wasn’t a consideration; however, as Jonathan’s natural talent and quick progress were noted, he decided to pursue competitive archery. 

While archery was easy to get started with, there was an adjustment period of getting around physical limitations. For example, the difficulty of pushing a wheelchair on grass to retrieve arrows, and adapting techniques to accommodate a spinal cord injury. Costs are an ongoing consideration, including equipment and travel to competitions. 

Without a specific role model in mind, Jonathon would observe top archers and adjust their methods to suit his physical structure. When he had gone as far as he could on his own, he started to work with a coach for an outside perspective to help improve his performance. 

“I think in one respect, I’m lucky I never did archery before my accident,” says Jonathon. “All I’ve ever really known is shooting from in the chair with what limitations I’ve got. So whatever I’m doing now feels normal to me.” 

Whether it’s a weekend club comp or an international tournament, Jonathon keeps the same mindset: To shoot like it’s any other day at training and focus on beating his personal scores rather than other competitors. 

The strategy has served him well thus far. He won Bronze at the Archery World Cup in 2024, archery’s annual international tournament circuit, open to competitors with and without a disability integrated for competition. This makes him only the third Para archer to win a World Cup medal. 

To aspiring Para archers, Jonathon says it’s a great sport to enjoy with a simple entry-level setup (compared to some Para-sports that need more specialised equipment). 

This article is part of NDSP's partnership with Paralympics Australia, helping more Australians learn about Para sport and discover opportunities to get involved. 

If you'd like to read more athlete stories, learn about the history of the Paralympic movement and explore pathways into Para sport, download our free ebook Get Active, Stay Involved:  

Together with Paralympics Australia, we want to help make Para sport more visible and easier to explore for people across Australia.