Christopher Pitt (also known as Chris Pitt) (born 12 May 1965) is an Australian Paralympic shooter. He has represented Australia in the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[1][2]

Chris Pitt
2016 Australian Paralympic team portrait
Personal information
Birth nameChristopher Pitt
Nationality Australia
Born (1965-05-12) 12 May 1965 (age 59)
Sport
Country Australia
SportShooting

Personal

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Pitt was born on 12 May 1965.[3] At the age of ten, a virus led to him contracting degenerative muscle disease called dermatomyositis and by the age of twelve he was a wheelchair user.[4] He grew up on a farm in Bundaberg, Queensland and as of 2021 still lives there and cares for his mother.[4]

Shooting

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Pitt took up shooting sport in 2010 and is classified as a SH1 shooter. He always had an interest in shooting due to life on the farm.[5] His first international competition was the World Cup held in Szczecin Poland in April 2013 where he finished 13th. He won two gold medals at the 2013 Oceania World Championships in Sydney.[6]

At the 2014 IPC World Championships in Hanover, Germany, he finished 11th in the 25m Pistol SH1 and 44th in the 10m Air Pistol SH1.[7] Throughout 2015 Chris continued to perform consistently well with three top-10 results at World Cups.[7]

Pitt has stated that he has been inspired by Rheed McCracken, a Bundaberg wheelchair racer.[8]

Pitt competed in the 2016 Rio Paralympics in the Men's 10 metre air pistol SH1 event where he placed 14th, as well as competing in the Mixed 25 metre pistol SH1, where he placed 7th.[9][10]

At the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Cheongju, South Korea, he finished 42nd in Men's 10m Air Pistol SH1 and 17th in the Mixed 25m Pistol SH1.[11]

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, he finished 25th in the Men's 10m Air Pistol SH1 and 30th in the Mixed 25m Pistol SH1.

References

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  1. ^ "Six Australian shooters to target Paralympic gold in Rio". Australian Paralympic Committee News. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Fresh Era Of Success Beckons For Australian Para-Shooting Team". Paralympics Australia. 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Chris Pitt". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Chris Pitt". Paralympics Australia. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  5. ^ Jones, Shane (14 April 2016). "Pitt may get his shot at Rio". NewsMail. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Shooters aiming for Rio". NewsMail. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Chris Pitt". International Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  8. ^ Jones, Shane (17 May 2016). "Chris Pitt is off to the Paralympics". Tweed Daily News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  9. ^ "2016 Rio Paralympic results". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  10. ^ "2016 Rio Paralympic Results". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Chris Pitt". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
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