Shaun Anderson took the lessons he had learned from twice competing at the Paralympic Games to heart, as he makes sure he will leave nothing to chance when competing at the Paris edition starting next month.
Anderson backs his ability, and said in the past he has been let down by equipment failure.
“The tournament in Dubai was a good example. I had qualified for the Paris Games and was on the verge of competing for bronze when my trigger mechanism broke. That was the last straw for me. I decided no more,” said Anderson.
His new bow will be fitted with a different kind of trigger mechanism which should help eliminate equipment failure. Anderson said he also now knows how extreme heat, which he experienced at the Tokyo Paralympics, could affect him.
"Para sport gave me something to strive for," Paralympic medalist Trevor Hirschfield 🇨🇦 says.
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‘Utterly calm and relaxed’
“I ordered a special cooling vest from Holland. I have prepped for everything. If you see me now, you will notice the difference. I am utterly calm and relaxed."
According to Anderson, his training is going well.
"The new trigger mechanism fitted to my bow is helping me, on average, to score ten points more in each round. Earlier this year, in a competition during a training camp, I improved on the Africa record by more than 20 points.
“On a bad day, my score is 650; on a good day, it is 670. This compares favourably to international scores.
"My focus now is to be more competitive during the elimination rounds. My coach, Barbara Manning, has done a lot of research as to how my opponents fare in elimination.
“During training, Barbara selects an opponent and tells me what he has scored. My challenge, then, is to do better.”
In the previous Paralympics, Anderson said he would be competing in honour of his father who had recently died. This time, Anderson said he is taking part solely for himself.
“I will be competing to make Shaun Anderson proud. If I succeed, there will be ample time to talk and celebrate."
The Tuks archer was left paralysed six years ago after a motorboat accident. Before that, his left arm was amputated after he was involved in a motorbike accident a few years prior. Still, feeling sorrow is not an option for him.
"The message I want to convey is that people should avoid making assumptions when seeing someone in a wheelchair. We are still human. Actually, we are superhuman because it takes real courage to live life to the fullest, chasing your dreams after a severe setback."