Shooting for gold - NATALIE'S OLYMPIC DREAM

The Kiwi hot shot reveals the tragedy that led to being a paraplegic, but how she's living her best life

- Fleur Guthrie

When Natalie W Brunzel's coach told her to "go to the range and have some fun shooting", she didn't think he meant for her to draw hearts on plywood to shoot at. It was all done tongue firmly in cheek, of course.

"Look, sometimes you just have to change things up in your training," laughs the talented shooting para sport athlete. "The middle was hit perfectly in each of them, and it was extremely fun and cathartic, because otherwise I just spend hours and hours staring at a dot!"

Nailing that target has seen Natalie represent New Zealand on the world stage for the past five years. Her dream which right now feels "so close" to realising - is to compete at the Paralympic Games in Paris next year.

Welcoming the Weekly into the shooting range on Auckland's city fringe, where she trains for 30 hours a week, Natalie's drive, ambition and determination is immediately evident. The freelance communications executive is currently working several jobs while fundraising non-stop to get herself and her rifle loader Aqeelah Abrahams to two international prequalifying events.

“Even though I get support from High Performance Sport New Zealand, the yearly cost to compete is huge,” says Natalie, who is in her thirties.

“For 2023, to compete at both the World Cup and World Championships in order to compete for a spot in Paris at the Paralympics, the cost is around $50,000. I have to fund this myself.

“And never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have the opportunity to represent my country.”