YanXiao Gong

Para Pistol

Date of birth:

12/31/1997

Hometown:

Malibu, California

College:

The Los Angeles Film School

Olympic Experience:

  • 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, 9th (10-meter air pistol SH1), 10th (mixed 25-meter pistol SH1)

Biography:

Xiao began shooting at an early age as a hobby. Around 2012, Xiao began formally practicing with the Bridge Jr. Team under coach In Kim. In 2017, while focusing on rehab and therapy, Xiao practiced shooting one of the fun ways to focus his mind and pass the time between rehabs.

He attended his first international match, the World Shooting Para Sport Championships, in 2019 where he fired an impressive 564 in the P3 - Mixed 25m Sport Pistol SH1 event that advanced him into the final top eight. In doing so, Xiao earned the United States their first pistol quota spot for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He credits this match as the moment where all his training and time spent in the sport registered and the Paralympic Games seemed like an attainable goal. Not long after this match, Xiao moved to the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center to practice full-time as a resident athlete. Tokyo 2020 was Xiao’s first Paralympic Games appearance.

Competition Highlights:

  • 2023 Parapan American Games: Gold, Mixed P3 25m Sport Pistol SH1; Bronze, P3 Men’s Air Pistol SH1
  • 2023 World Shooting Para Sport Champion: P3 Mixed 25m Pistol SH1
  • 2022 Peru Grand Prix: Gold in 25m Sport Pistol P3 and 50m Free Pistol P4; Silver, Men’s 10m Air Pistol P1
  • 2021 WSPS Lima World Cup: Bronze, P3 Mixed 25m Sport Pistol SH1, Bronze
  • 2021 WSPS Lima World Cup: Bronze, P1 - Men's 10m Air Pistol SH1
  • 2021 WSPS Lima World Cup: Silver, P4 - Mixed 50m Free Pistol SH1
  • 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, 9th (10-meter air pistol SH1), 10th (mixed 25-meter pistol SH1) 16th (mixed 50-meter pistol SH1)
  • 2019 World Shooting Para Sport Championships: 8th place (Paralympic Quota Winner) (P3 - Mixed 25m sport pistol SH1)