Join Neelam's Paralympic Dream: Next stops in 2023 - South Korea and Peru!

I'm Neelam O'Neill and I have a dream to represent New Zealand at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games! I compete in two 10-metre indoor events: Air-rifle mixed prone (SH1 R3) and Air-pistol women (SH1 P2). And it's all done from the comfort of my manual wheelchair! If given the opportunity, I will be the first woman in over 30 years to represent NZ and the first woman ever to represent NZ in air-pistol at the Games. I am currently on the pathway towards qualifying for Paris, and with your support, I know I can get there.

After an unexpected 3-year hiatus from international competition, I shot into my 2024 Paris campaign starting with the World Shooting Para Sport World Championships in Al Ain, UAE in November 2022. It was my most successful international event yet: placing 12th in both my events and narrowly missed out on the top 8 finals by 0.9 of a point in air-rifle and 3 points in air-pistol. The next qualifying events in 2023 will be the Changwon World Cup (South Korea) in May and Lima World Championships (Peru) in September. My biggest barrier with pursuing my dream however, is the financial burden associated with travel.

I know I have the right skills and determination to compete among the best in the world. It's an expensive road ahead, but with your support, you will be giving me the chance to be one step closer to my dreams! Special thank you to everyone who has been following my journey - I would not be able to do what I love, without your continuous love and support.