Athlete Spotlight: YanXiao Gong

Xiao is a member of USA Shooting’s National Paralympic Team. The pistol shooter most recently competed at the 2022 Paralympic World Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

Where are you from?

Malibu, California

How did you get into the sport of shooting?

I got injured and I picked up shooting as a way to kill time in between my therapies and home schooling. It was one of the very few ways I was able to pass time. I met In Kim (Pistol Coach at Bridge Shooting Club) in California, and I started shooting at his club. I didn’t want to go into Paralympic shooting because I was still bitter about my injury but In Kim convinced me to keep shooting.

What is your favorite aspect about the sport?

I enjoy the thrill of shooting. I never liked playing team sports. Prior to my injury, all the sports I did were individual: rock climbing, scuba diving. I like independent sports, and shooting gives me that.

How were you injured?

In 2013 I was surfing for the first time and the doctors think I overextended my back while trying to catch a wave and that twisted a blood vessel. This blocked the blood flow and caused the injury to my spine.

Xiao shooting at a range when he was a child. Courtesy photo

What was it like to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics?

I enjoyed almost every moment of it, all the ups and down. There were some disappointments, but I am glad it happened. I mean how many times does someone get that type of experience?

What or who motivates you when it comes to competing?

I enjoy shooting guns and the serenity I get when I shoot. That always bring me back to the sport.

What has been your most intense competition thus far?

I would say the Winter Air Gun Championship right after Tokyo. I was desperate to prove to myself that I can do this.

What do you do in your free time?

I like music and building scale models. I also love documentary film making. That is how I got into the film school I used to be in back in California.

What’s next for you?

I am going to revisit some of the fundamentals and the basic things I have been missing out on over the years. For example, dry firing and other practice techniques. 12

Xiao in Lima, Peru, with his Paralympic World Cup silver medal for 50m Pistol. Courtesy photo.