Three-time Paralympian Jonathon Milne broke four world records in 10 days last month, becoming the first Para archer to pass 1400 points in the 1440 round, Paralympics Australia said.
The Rio 2016 bronze medallist opened his run at the NSW State Target Championships in Sydney, scoring 1402 to beat his own 2019 world record in the 1440 round and also breaking a 70-metre record that had stood since 2005.
He then travelled to Hobart for the 2026 National Target and Para Championships, held at the University of Tasmania's Sandy Bay campus from October 19 to 24, where he shot 354 at 50 metres and a perfect 360 at 30 metres, both breaking marks that had stood since 2007.
"I knew I was capable of it. I've been close plenty of times before, but weather conditions really dictate whether you're going to be able to get a record or not," Milne said.
The 1440 round is contested only twice a year in Australia, at the NSW State and National Championships, meaning archers get just two chances each season to chase a record over the full format.
Milne said wind was often the deciding factor between a record score and a missed opportunity. "You can be in the best form of your life and turn up on a day when there are 20 or 30-kilometre winds, and you don't have a hope," he said.
Conditions in Hobart were testing in their own way, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, wind gusts reaching 80 kilometres per hour and heavy rain interrupting the recurve finals.
Milne, who won bronze in the men's individual compound Open at Rio 2016, Australia's first Paralympic archery medal in 32 years, said he was not done chasing better scores. "I still haven't shot a perfectly clean round yet, so until I do that, there's always room for improvement," he said.
"One or two millimetres is enough to win or lose. You can do everything right, think the arrow should go in the middle, and then it's out by a millimetre and you've lost," he said.
The Hobart championships marked the first time Australia's Open and Para archers had competed at a shared national event, according to Archery Australia.
Emerging Para archer Jolly Duong won gold in both the men's Para recurve and the Para recurve doubles, partnering Stuart Hume, in his national championships debut, while also finishing 25th in the Open competition.
"Winning both gold medals in Hobart was a very proud moment," Duong said. "The results reflected the hard work, consistency and dedication I have put into training, and I am learning to give myself credit for that."
Duong said sharing the event with Open archers had benefits but should not come at the expense of Para athletes' needs. "It created a more inclusive competition environment and provided greater visibility for Para archery," he said. "I hope this is something that continues, while ensuring that the specific accessibility and support needs of Para athletes remain properly recognised and addressed."
Other national Para champions crowned in Hobart were Sonia Withey in the women's recurve, Ameera Lee in the women's compound, Christopher Davis in the P1 category and Craig Newbery in the vision impaired category.
Milne, who was born on January 25, 1986 and lives in Blaxland, NSW, said he never set out to chase records. "I never got into the sport to be the best. I do it because I enjoy it and I want to keep getting better and improve my own scores," he said.
He said his focus now turns to the 2027 World Archery Championships, due to be held on home soil, and the prospect of adding to his three Paralympic appearances at Los Angeles 2028 and a home Games in Brisbane in 2032. "I'd like to say I'm still going to be around for Brisbane. A home Games would be good," he said.