Army veteran **Jason Tabansky** delivered a storybook finish in the men’s para archery W1 category at the Paris Paralympics, securing the **gold medal** with a dramatic last shot. In a high-pressure showdown against China’s top-ranked archer, **Han Guifei**, Tabansky hit a perfect bullseye on his final arrow, clinching the victory with a score of 134-131.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with the lead constantly shifting. Going into the final round, Tabansky trailed by 7 points after scoring a 7 on his penultimate shot. Han responded with an 8, further increasing his lead to **131-124**. With the gold on the line, Tabansky needed a flawless final shot—and he delivered, hitting a 10 and turning the tide in his favor.
What’s more incredible is that Tabansky wasn’t even originally scheduled to compete in Paris. Despite a solid performance leading up to the Games, he hadn’t qualified. However, when Australia’s Christopher Davis withdrew due to an injury just two months before the event, Tabansky, the highest-ranked para archer who had not qualified, was given his shot.
He seized the opportunity, taking down some of the world’s best para archers on his way to the final, where he faced Han for the ultimate prize.
Tabansky’s journey to Paralympic gold began long before Paris. A U.S. Army veteran, he enlisted in 2001 and served for 15 years, deploying twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq as a Chinook helicopter mechanic, crewmember, and instructor. In 2015, his military career was cut short after a devastating fall from a Chinook that left him with a spinal cord injury, paralyzing him from the waist down.
Though the accident took away his ability to walk, it reignited a passion for archery that had begun during his days as a bow hunter. He embraced **para archery**, dedicating himself to the sport and representing the United States in numerous international competitions.
This Paralympic Games marked his debut on the biggest stage, and he didn’t waste the moment. According to Tabansky, his training regimen often includes shooting **250 arrows per day**, honing the precision and focus that carried him to victory.
As he stood on the podium, gold medal around his neck, Tabansky saluted during the playing of the U.S. national anthem, a moment that symbolized both his personal triumph and the resilience of his journey.
Tabansky joins a proud tradition of servicemembers competing in the Olympics and Paralympics. His win adds to a list of recent achievements by military personnel, including medals in **women’s rugby** and **skeet shooting** at the Paris Olympic Games.
From an unexpected opportunity to a golden moment under the highest pressure, Jason Tabansky’s story is one of grit, determination, and redemption—proof that even when the odds seem insurmountable, one last shot can make all the difference.
