Jonas Jacobsson's phenomenal winning record stretches back an amazing 28 years, making a true hot shot at the Paralympic shooting range.
The 43-year-old Swede added another gold to his impressive medal collection yesterday in the men's R1-10m air rifle SH1 with a new world and Paralympic record of 700.5 points, the same score recorded by Beijing Olympic champion Ahbinav Bindra in the men's 10m air rifle competition.
Swedish shooter Jonas Jacobsson celebrates after winning the gold in the men's R1-10m air rifle SH1 with a new world and Paralympic record of 700.5 points. [Xinhua]
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Since his debut at the 1980 Paralympics in the Netherlands, Jacobsson has won 14 gold, two silver and 11 bronze medals at eight consecutive Games.
Together with fifteen gold, 10 silver and three bronze World Championship medals, he's become something of a precious metal collector.
Four years ago in Athens, he swept all four rifle titles on offer and plans to repeat that incredible feat in Beijing.
"The main goal is to continue the streak. I've now won eight Paralympics in a row and hopefully I can get another good result here," Jacobsson told The Paralympian after his win yesterday.
"I have seen Chinese shooters training here, and they are shooting extremely well. They will be hard to beat in the next three events."
Born into a shooting family, it was a fait accompli for Jacobsson to begin picking off targets from the age of seven.
"When I first participated in the 1980 Paralympics, I was only 15 and my father was my coach. Everybody thought I was just looking around, but I surprised them to take a gold and a bronze," he recalled of his maiden Games.
After winning numerous titles, his career reached its zenith at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, where he was duly recognized as the sport's shining star.
"The last shot in Athens was the most unforgettable thing in my life," he said of the moment he secured his fourth gold the 12th Paralympic Games.
"It is always nice to be called a star, but every competition is a new one and everybody starts at zero. You have to shoot your own shots."
Away from the target range, Jacobsson works for the Swedish Association of Disabled Sports.
To prepare for the Beijing Paralympics, he trained five to six hours every day from February.
"Paralympics is a very good thing. For me, every four years is worth waiting for - that's what I aim for," he said.