Changwon 2026 Day 6: Rutkowski claims debut world title as Korea top table

Poland’s Boguslaw Rutkowski emerged as the new star of the visually impaired class, clinching his first world title on his debut as the Changwon 2026 WSPS World Championships concluded on Tuesday.

Home nation Korea topped the medals table with 21 medals, including 10 golds, followed by China (14), Poland (10), Italy (8) and Slovakia (5) in the top five. Overall, 24 LA28 Paralympic Games quota places (13 men, 11 women) were secured by 15 nations at Korea’s third WSPS Worlds.

Rutkowski’s dream debut

Changwon 2026 will hold a special place in Rutkowski’s heart after he produced an impressive performance, scoring 247.7 points to win gold in the VIP - 10m air rifle VI prone open SH VI final ahead of several former champions.

The 31-year-old Pole faced a strong challenge from Al Ain 2022 VIS champion Barbara Moskal and Italy’s Heloise Mendouze, but Rutkowski’s consistent series of 10s, including a 10.8 in the penultimate series, secured the world title. Moskal settled for silver on 244.8 points, ahead of Mendouze, who finished on 223.8.

Spaniard Ager Solabarrieta Txakartegi, the most decorated VI athlete in WSPS World Championships history with three world titles, stayed in medal contention briefly before finishing fourth with 202.7 points.

“I'm so excited as it is my first World Championships so it's big,” said an overwhelmed Rutkowski.

“I think I did a good work, and I was ready for this, so I wasn't so much stressed. And now it's just the beginning.”

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Benson gets her first gold

While a new star emerged in the VIP category, the rifle events saw some of the sport’s biggest names securing their first gold medals at Changwon 2026 on the final day.

Sweden’s Anna Benson saved her best for last, winning the R6 - 50m rifle prone open SH1 final after an exciting elimination round. The two-time Paralympic silver medallist finished with 249.5 points.

With reigning and former champions in the line-up, the final lived up to expectations with closely contested series taking centre stage.

At the top, the lead changed hands repeatedly between Slovakia’s Radoslav Malenovsky, Poland’s Marek Dobrowolski, the Granada 2024 European champion, and Benson.

Malenovsky, who had already won the R1 gold with a world record score in Changwon, looked on course for another title after shooting two 10.9s. But a 9.9 in the final series hurt his chances, while Benson maintained her consistency with scores of 10.0 and higher.

🔴 First final of the last day: R6 Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1.

Watch live 👇https://t.co/5bn7US4d3b#ShootingParaSport #Changwon2026 pic.twitter.com/CB3sUWigEM

— Shooting Para Sport (@ShootingPara) September 15, 2026

The Slovak finished 1.6 points behind Benson on 247.9, while Dobrowolski took bronze and a quota place with 226.9.

Paris 2024 champion Natascha Hiltrop of Germany finished sixth but still secured a quota place, while Lima 2023 world champion Matt Skelhon, who qualified in third place, ended the final in seventh.

“I'm feeling so great and exhausted – it’s the last day and I'm tired. Shooting can be tough some days,” said Benson, who claimed R8 silver two days ago.

“It was tricky in the elimination round – the wind wasn't blowing but it was strange. I may be getting old, but I couldn't see. I must go to my eye doctor if something is wrong with my eyes,” she joked, adding: “In the finals, the light was so much better and there was no wind and then I just like, better watch out because now I know what I am doing.”

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Rifle stars close in style

The final event of the day provided a fittingly thrilling conclusion to Changwon 2026.

Three-time Paralympic champion Dragan Ristic delivered when it mattered the most, as he pipped New Zealand’s seasoned star Michael Johnson by 0.1 point in the R5 - 10m air rifle prone open SH2 final.

In the last three series, the contest became a three-way race between Ristic, Johnson and France’s Justine Beve, who had already secured a quota place in R9.

Beve even shot a 10.9 in the penultimate series, but it was not enough as she settled for bronze on 232.9 points. Johnson missed gold by the narrowest of margins – just 0.1 point – despite leading heading into the final series.

Ristic secured gold and the LA28 quota place for Serbia with a total of 254.7 points. The other quota place was secured by Portugal’s Margarida Lapa, who finished 11th in qualification.

You can relive the action from Changwon by watching the livestream, while results are available here.