Teens and Veterans Break World Records at Korea Shooting Event

Sometimes the smallest margins create the biggest moments, and at the World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Changwon, Korea, victories came down to fractions of a point.

Slovakian shooter Radoslav Malenovsky proved nerves of steel don't fade with age. The 39-year-old watched Hungary's rising star Csaba Rescsik break his world record with just two shots remaining in the final.

Instead of crumbling, Malenovsky delivered a brilliant closing series of 10.7 and 10.3 to reclaim the world record and snatch gold by just 0.1 point. His final score of 251.2 in the 10m air rifle standing event earned him his third world championship title and a coveted spot at the 2028 LA Paralympics.

"There was no way to catch him, but then he made a mistake and I didn't," Malenovsky said after the win. The Paris 2024 silver medalist can now focus on two years of preparation for Los Angeles.

The surprises kept coming when Italian teenager Tommaso Starec stepped into the spotlight. Competing against Olympic champions and seasoned veterans, the young shooter stayed calm and focused.

Starec matched the senior world record of 255.5 points held by France's multiple-time champion Tanguy De La Forest. Athens 2004 champion Michael Johnson finished just 1.4 points behind in second place.

"It's strange that I'm like little mascot of my team. I think age is just a number," Starec said with a smile after claiming his first world title.

Why This Inspires

Serbia's Kristina Trifunovic, 22, showed that breakthrough moments happen when preparation meets opportunity. She held her composure through a nail-biting finish to win by two-tenths of a point over India's Paris 2024 champion Avani Lekhara and bronze medalist Mona Agarwal.

Eight Paralympic quota spots for the 2028 LA Games were claimed by seven nations on opening day alone. Athletes from Slovakia, Italy, Serbia, China, India, and Korea proved that dedication and precision can overcome any obstacle.

The championships continue through the week, with dozens more athletes chasing their dreams of Paralympic glory in Los Angeles.