By Duncan Mackay

Michael_Johnson_shootingJune 5 - Two New Zealand Paralympians Adam Hall and Michael Johnson have had their achievements and services recognized in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.


The two have been made Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit for their services to sport in the Honours which award people of any field for commendable service to the Crown and nation or for those who have become distinguished by their talents or contributions.

Hall, 23, who has spina bifida, claimed gold at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games where in the men's slalom standing event he recovered from a fall to win gold with an adjusted margin of more than half-a-second.

Hall's mother Gayle's death in a car crash just days after he returned from Canada.

Johnson, meanwhile, was an Athens gold shooting medallist in 2004 and bronze medallist at the Beijing 2008 and is now aiming to compete at London 2012.

He became a Paralympic shooter in 2001 and has represented New Zealand since 2003.

In Athens he set the world record for a perfect score of 600/600 points.

"It's a huge surprise," said Johnson.

"I just feel like I'm doing my job and something I enjoy so it's an honour to get an award like this."

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