John Wayne Joss III

Para Rifle

Date of birth:

1/4/1983

Hometown:

Corsicana, Texas

Olympic Experience:

  • 2024 Paris Paralympic Games: Qualified in R6 Mixed 50m Prone Rifle SH1
  • 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games
  • 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, 5th (R6), 40th (R3)

Biography:

John Wayne Joss III (John) is a member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program and the current National record holder in the R6- Mixed 50m Free Rifle Prone SH1. John got his start in shooting sports growing up hunting and being outdoors in Texas as part of his daily life.

John began competitive shooting through the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. After being injured during an Iraq deployment he went through rehabilitation and was assigned to an infantry battalion as a mortar gunnery instructor. In 2012 the USAMU saw Joss’ shooting skills and recruited him to their program. He has been shooting competitively since. The purple heart recipient is currently a Segreant First Class in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.

In 2016, John made his Paralympic Debut in Rio where he placed fifth in R6. In 2018, John won a silver medal at World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in France and won the United States first Tokyo 2020 Paralympic quota sport, which he went on to fulfill.

John enjoys riding motorcycles, specifically vintage Harley Davidsons, hunting whitetail deer and boar, long-range rifle shooting, and spending time at home with his two daughters, Aurelia and Helena.

Competition Highlights:

  • 2023 Parapan American Games Team Member
  • 2023 World Championship Team Member
  • 2023 USA Shooting National Champion in R6
  • 2022 Peru Grand Prix: Gold, 50m Smallbore R6 SH1 Prone
  • 2022 USA Shooting Rifle National Championships: Silver, R6 50m Rifle Prone SH1
  • 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, 29th (mixed 50-meter rifle prone)
  • National Record Holder 628.7 (R6- Mixed 50m Free Rifle Prone SH1)
  • 2018 World Shooting Para Sport Silver Medalist (Paralympic Quota Winner) (R6- Mixed 50m Free Rifle Prone SH1)
  • 2016 Paralympic Games, Fifth Place (R6), 40th Place (R3)
  • 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Smallbore, Sixth Place (Prone)
  • 2016 IPC World Cup Bangkok: 5th place, R6
  • 2015 IPC World Cup Sydney: Silver, R6
  • 2014 USA Shooting Rifle National Championships: Gold Medalist (R3)
  • 2013 Bangkok World Cup: Gold Medalist (R3), Fourth Place (R6)
  • 2013 USA Shooting National Rifle Championships: Gold Medalist (R3)
  • 2013 Antalya World Cup:Fifth Place (R3)
  • Two-time Paralympian