John Joss Iii

United States of America

Shooting

Biography

Impairment information

Type of Impairment

Limb deficiency

Origin of Impairment

Acquired

Classification

SH1

Further personal information

Family

Daughters Aurelia and Helena

Residence

Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Languages

English

Sport specific information

When and where did you begin this sport?

He was encouraged to join the US Army shooting team in 2011 and earned a post in the Marksmanship Unit in 2012.

Why this sport?

While attending a course at Fort Benning, GA, United States of America, he was told the US Army Marksmanship Unit had started a Paralympic programme and were recruiting new athletes. "I wasn't sure what it'd be like, but I tried out, and it's been great since."

Handedness

Right

General interest

Hobbies

Motorcycles. (Facebook profile, 24 Jul 2020)

Injuries

In 2016/17 he underwent shoulder surgery which left him unable to shoot for eight months. (armywcap.com, 10 Apr 2019)

Sporting philosophy / motto

"I'm a competitor first. If you pick up a stick and throw it into the wood line, I'll pick up another one and throw it even farther." (armywcap.com, 10 Apr 2019)

Awards and honours

In 2013 he was named Paralympic Athlete of the Year by USA Shooting. (theoutdoorwire.com, 02 Jun 2014)

Ambitions

To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (armywcap.com, 10 Apr 2019)

Impairment

He required a right lower leg amputation following an explosion while serving in the US Army in Iraq in May 2007. He was in a vehicle that was hit by an improvised explosive device. (armywcap.com, 10 Apr 2019; teamusa.org, 09 Jul 2015)

Other information

US ARMY SERVICE
He enlisted in the US Army in 2004 and has served as an infantryman. While deployed to Iraq in 2007, he lost his right lower leg due to an improvised explosive device. In 2012 he earned a post in the US Army Marksmanship Unit. (armywcap.com, 10 Apr 2019; US Army Marksmanship Unit Facebook page, 24 Apr 2018; usashooting.org, 15 Feb 2016; teamusa.org, 01 Oct 2016)

Results

		Unit	Date	Rank

2014 IPC Shooting World Championships (Suhl, Germany)
Event	Unit	Date	Rank
Mixed 10m Air Rifle prone SH1	Qualification	2014-07-21	29
Team R3 - Mixed 10m Air Rifle prone SH1	Qualification	2014-07-21	13
Mixed 50m Rifle prone SH1	Elimination	2014-07-22	10
Mixed 50m Rifle prone SH1	Qualification	2014-07-22	22

Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Event	Unit	Date	Rank
R3 - Mixed 10 m Air Rifle Prone SH1	Qualification	2016-09-10	40
R6 - Mixed 50 m Rifle Prone SH1	Qualification	2016-09-14	6
R6 - Mixed 50 m Rifle Prone SH1	Final Round	2016-09-14	5