The Los Angeles Film School Alumnus Yanxiao Gong was always a heterosexual shooter. At a young age he developed two passions: film production and firearms.

From his childhood in Shanghai, China, Yanxia was fascinated by weapons. In the middle school in South Pasadena, California, he came across the competitive sport of shooting with his trainer in Hyun Kim and developed skills that would later define his sporting career. But filmmaking has always been a parallel interest. The creative possibilities of visual storytelling recorded his imagination as much as the precision of target shooting.

A crucial moment came when a surf injury forced him to pause and rethink his way during his first year at the Malibu High School. This break led him to think about the purpose of his future. Convinced that the film is the most effective medium that preserves the continuity of human values, he strived to become a filmmaker. Instead of seeing the setback as an obstacle, Yanxia saw it as an opportunity to deeper his employees of filmmaking deeper. His search led him to the film school in Los Angeles. Yanxiao was attracted to the academic atmosphere and was even more fascinated than the school in the middle of where films – and dreams – are shot: Hollywood. The La film school soon became like a second home – he had never felt more fascinated by his surroundings, and he had the feeling that he had every tool he needed to be successful in his studies. The call of the school for practical learning and industry connections made it an ideal choice for someone who wanted to put the creative vision into reality. It was attracted to production design, directing, processing and post -production. He was on the way to realize his dream.

Journey to become world champion

However, life had other plans. In the course of his academic career, Yanxiaos began to attract international attention in competitive shootings. With the help of his coaches in Hyun Kim, Brenda Silva and Brent McPherson, he discovered a path that took him away from Los Angeles. In view of this challenging decision, he decided to temporarily pause his studies when the opportunity to train in the Colorado Springs Olympic and Paralympic training center. His commitment paid off and led to numerous victories on the world stage, which represent the United States, from a national to the Grand Prix champion, from Pan -Americans to the world champion. With many stops in between, the trip to the Paralympics 2024 in Paris prepared him, where he later won a silver medal during this games and the first US pistol medal had been marked in 1984 since the summer paralympic Summer in Los Angeles. Yanxiao can now be found as the most decorated paralympier in the history of the United States. He attributes most of his achievements to his coach in Hyun Kim, who steadfastly supported him during his darkest hours after his injury in the high school and urged him to stand on the highest podium.

Yanxia gongs next chapter

Now, after his extraordinary success, Yanxiao begins to think about his film passion again. He remembers the “supportive and lively” community of students and trainers, practical lessons and the excitement to learn something new in the Los Angeles Film School. He attributed the years at the film school that he played a key role in preparing for what was supposed to come on his Paralympic journey. He is still concentrating on his career as a shoot, but looks into the future a future that will probably mark a return to the campus that he loves.