Help Jonny get to Tokyo Paralympics 2020
Donation protected
Anyone who knows Jonny knows that he’s an absolute legend! Not only is he the most genuine, down to earth and hardworking guy, he’s also one of the most inspiring!
Jonny’s just qualified for TOKYO 2020 Paralympics and he needs our help to get there!
He made the comeback of a lifetime after his accident in 2012 (see backstory below) when he won a bronze medal in the RIO 2016 Paralympics, making him the first Aussie archer to win a medal since 1984. Since then he’s competed at the World Championships and a ton of international, national, state and local competitions. He’s also set two world records and is Australia’s number one archer!
But we’re making this sound easy. And accomplishing these incredible feats has relied on two things: a crazy commitment to flinging arrows, and funding.
That’s where you come in. Jonny’s solid on number one (he’s an arrow flinging fiend), but a recent cut to his funding means he can’t make it to all the competitions he needs to for TOKYO! It’s not every day you get a shot at something like the Paralympics, and Jonny’s been pouring his heart into this moment for the last 4 years.
And whilst he couldn't have made it this far without Archery Australia's ongoing support and his loyal crew of family and friends, we need your help!
So please show your support for this Aussie legend by donating here!
We believe in you Jonny! Go for gold
Ains and Tor xo
The moment he won bronze!!
Jonny on the podium at RIO Paralympics 2016
THE BREAKDOWN
Your contribution is going towards:
- Return International Flights
- Accommodation
- Accessible car hire
- Equipment
- Time away from work
Costs for overseas competitions are approx. $6,000 per trip.
We’ve included a list of the competitions he needs to go to before Tokyo, and we’ll provide regular updates on progress as we go!
UPCOMING COMPETITIONS:
International
Para Tournament, USA
16-19 April 2020
Shanghai World Cup, China
4-10 May 2020
Berlin World Cup, Germany
21-28 June 2020
Last Qualifier Competition for Tokyo, Czech Republic
July 2020
National
Victor Harbour Australian Open, South Australia
February 2020
Para National Championships, Queensland
March 2020
THE BACKSTORY
In 2012, Jonny had a life changing accident at Avoca Beach just two days before Christmas. Swimming with his wife Sarah at the beach he grew up on, Jonny dived into a shallow sandbar and crushed the C7 vertebra in his neck. He was instantly paralysed from the neck down and airlifted straight to the Royal North Shore Hospital where he underwent critical spinal surgery. Christmas was a blur that year as we spent it gathered round his hospital bed, not knowing what his future would be.
Christmas 2012 - Spent in Royal North Shore Hospital
But Jonny being the determined guy that he is, worked his butt off in months of hospital, therapy and rehab, and was able to go home having regained the use of his upper body and some of his legs. Whilst this was a monumental achievement (having been told he that was going to be a paraplegic), it meant he could no longer continue his trade as a carpenter.
Working hard in rehab
However, whilst in rehab, Jonny took up archery as part of his recovery. Little did we know at the time, this passion would soon turn into a full-time profession! Turns out Jonny is a bit of a natural (with a ton of commitment), and in just under 4 short years he qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where he won a bronze medal!
RIO Paralympics 2016
When he’s not on the road or competing to maintain his ranking, he’s training, working hard prepping bows and arrows and coaching other archers. But all this training and competition comes at a big personal cost, and the recent cut to his small amount of funding means he’s had to spend more time working and less time training. That's why we need your help!
Jonny and Sarah (his #1 supporter!) on their wedding day
Jonny’s just qualified for TOKYO 2020 Paralympics and he needs our help to get there!
He made the comeback of a lifetime after his accident in 2012 (see backstory below) when he won a bronze medal in the RIO 2016 Paralympics, making him the first Aussie archer to win a medal since 1984. Since then he’s competed at the World Championships and a ton of international, national, state and local competitions. He’s also set two world records and is Australia’s number one archer!
But we’re making this sound easy. And accomplishing these incredible feats has relied on two things: a crazy commitment to flinging arrows, and funding.
That’s where you come in. Jonny’s solid on number one (he’s an arrow flinging fiend), but a recent cut to his funding means he can’t make it to all the competitions he needs to for TOKYO! It’s not every day you get a shot at something like the Paralympics, and Jonny’s been pouring his heart into this moment for the last 4 years.
And whilst he couldn't have made it this far without Archery Australia's ongoing support and his loyal crew of family and friends, we need your help!
So please show your support for this Aussie legend by donating here!
We believe in you Jonny! Go for gold
Ains and Tor xo
The moment he won bronze!!
Jonny on the podium at RIO Paralympics 2016
THE BREAKDOWN
Your contribution is going towards:
- Return International Flights
- Accommodation
- Accessible car hire
- Equipment
- Time away from work
Costs for overseas competitions are approx. $6,000 per trip.
We’ve included a list of the competitions he needs to go to before Tokyo, and we’ll provide regular updates on progress as we go!
UPCOMING COMPETITIONS:
International
Para Tournament, USA
16-19 April 2020
Shanghai World Cup, China
4-10 May 2020
Berlin World Cup, Germany
21-28 June 2020
Last Qualifier Competition for Tokyo, Czech Republic
July 2020
National
Victor Harbour Australian Open, South Australia
February 2020
Para National Championships, Queensland
March 2020
THE BACKSTORY
In 2012, Jonny had a life changing accident at Avoca Beach just two days before Christmas. Swimming with his wife Sarah at the beach he grew up on, Jonny dived into a shallow sandbar and crushed the C7 vertebra in his neck. He was instantly paralysed from the neck down and airlifted straight to the Royal North Shore Hospital where he underwent critical spinal surgery. Christmas was a blur that year as we spent it gathered round his hospital bed, not knowing what his future would be.
Christmas 2012 - Spent in Royal North Shore Hospital
But Jonny being the determined guy that he is, worked his butt off in months of hospital, therapy and rehab, and was able to go home having regained the use of his upper body and some of his legs. Whilst this was a monumental achievement (having been told he that was going to be a paraplegic), it meant he could no longer continue his trade as a carpenter.
Working hard in rehab
However, whilst in rehab, Jonny took up archery as part of his recovery. Little did we know at the time, this passion would soon turn into a full-time profession! Turns out Jonny is a bit of a natural (with a ton of commitment), and in just under 4 short years he qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where he won a bronze medal!
RIO Paralympics 2016
When he’s not on the road or competing to maintain his ranking, he’s training, working hard prepping bows and arrows and coaching other archers. But all this training and competition comes at a big personal cost, and the recent cut to his small amount of funding means he’s had to spend more time working and less time training. That's why we need your help!
Jonny and Sarah (his #1 supporter!) on their wedding day
Organizer and beneficiary
Victoria Principe
Organizer
Camperdown, NSW
Ainsley Rotgans
Beneficiary