Hailing From: Ithaca, New York U.S.A.

Throwing Since: Early 1990s

With a career spanning 30 years, Paul Maccarone is one the first ever Aim Games athletes, active since its inception, and has competed in numerous in-person and online competition events, from state tournaments to international championships. He’s even hosted two throwing events at his own home. Well established as both a top knife and tomahawk thrower, he is well known as an all-around tough competitor. Highly regarded for his Fast Draw ability and his success in the Aim Games, it's only natural that Paul tells us that he prefers the rotational knife category. 

As a teenager, Paul was heavily influenced by the books and writings of Harry McEvoy, founder of Tru-Balance Knives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His first favorite throwing knives were purchased from him in the 1980s. Paul also lists Rudd “Iceman” Pickett as a significant influence on his throwing career. Paul tells us “I was fortunate enough to be able to witness Rudd throw at Joe Darrah’s AKTA Brokenfeather Palooza in 2012, my first all-throwing competition. I  don’t think he was even in his teens yet, but he was tremendously skilled. I was amazed at what he could do and badly wanted to be able to throw that well. I decided then to train harder with the goal of becoming competitive in organized knife throwing”. For all his Aim Games achievements, Paul’s favorite thing about playing the tournaments is the many friendships he has formed with throwers around the world.

Nickname Backstory:

“ I was given that name by a high school gym teacher. When I first  went to the IKTHOF Championship in Blanco, TX in 2013, I started using my nickname there.  I had heard that sometimes nicknames that weren’t exactly flattering are “assigned” by  other throwers at events and I didn’t want to risk it. The funny thing is my wife had never  heard anyone call me that and thought I had just made it up myself. I actually had to dig out  my high school yearbook and show her where the gym teacher had signed a message to  ‘Big Mac’”. 

Advice To New Throwers:

“Buy quality knives and hawks from a reputable maker. Get yourself a good end grain target.  Go to a live in-person throw and observe other throwers. Practice and be patient”.

Notable Achievements:

Outside the Aim Games, Paul has won 8 world championship titles as well as dozens of Top 3 placements in a variety of throws sanctioned by various groups, including: IKTHOF, Blade Aces, Compagnia del Coltello, UKAT  and AKTA. He holds the IKTHOF rank of Master Thrower for both knives and tomahawks, and is one of only 4 people in the world who have achieved this distinction. In 2016, Paul was inducted into the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame.

Inside the Aim Games, Paul is the all-time leader in Superstars with a current rank of 40 stars and leads the world in Rank Points. He has a total of 24 Top Ten Finishes and has won 15 tournaments from June 2017 to November 2021, including a streak of 12 consecutive victories from June 2017 to March 2020.