Congratulations Jonatan

Jonatan returned last week from a rifle comp in Italy. He finished 3rd in the junior category so stood on the podium and 42nd overall (including seniors).  What an amazing achievement! Congratulations Jonatan!

I participate in a sport defined as Precision Rifle, and after numerous performances in the Australian professional scene I recently received the opportunity to attend the 1st International Rimfire Championship in the Tiro a Volo Piancardato in Italy, representing Australia in the Junior classification. The trip to Italy was very difficult, but the competition was worth all the training and hardships I had to endure. The conditions were difficult, with complicated wind and a constant over 30-degree climate, but in the end, I finished with a very close 3rd position in the Junior classification and 42nd in the world, out of 17 juniors and 179 competitors. As a reward, I stood on the podium and watched the Australian flag get hung up in honour of my success, alongside the flags of many other teams who succeeded in their classifications. Our country did surprisingly well, with another competitor receiving a podium position and the remainder of our team being above average. Next year the plan is to take gold! 

My main highlight of this competition however was the chance to explore the many cultures that participated in the championship, from South Africa to the USA to numerous European countries including Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and so many more. It was fantastic to see the similarities and differences between our cultures, as well as the camaraderie formed by our combined love of precision rifle sport. It was awesome to see how close we all can be despite our geographical distances, and how easy it is to make friends even if you do not speak a native language.

Overall it was an experience unlike any other and I will most likely remember that week as one of the greatest. - Jonatan