Sweden's Jonas Jacobsson shoots during the final for the mixed R-6 50 mm Free Rifle Prone SH1 Shooting competition at the Paralympics in Beijing, Sept. 12, 2008.
Jonas Jacobsson is not a household name internationally, but Swedes count him among their country’s sporting heroes. The 47-year-old, who has been paralyzed from the waist down since birth, is the second-most decorated Paralympian in history. His treasure trove from the Games includes 16 gold, two silver and nine bronze medals. He won his first medals at the 1980 Paralympic Games in Arnhem, the Netherlands as a 15-year old. The thrill of the chase is no less exciting 32 years later. “I’ve managed to be able to get at least one gold at every Paralympics I’ve attended,” he told the International Paralympic Committee ahead of the Swedish trials in February. “It’s eight in a row, and I want to make that nine in a row.”