Tuks student off to Paris Paralympic games

Shaun Anderson took the lessons he had learned from twice competing at the Paralympic Games to heart, so he made sure he would leave nothing to chance when competing at the Paris Games.

“I am an excellent archer who can repeatedly hit the bull during a competition. I have proven it,” said Anderson.

“Unfortunately, in the past, especially during the Paralympics, I have been repeatedly let down by my equipment at crucial moments.

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.

My bow will be fitted with a new effective trigger mechanism in Paris. I have got a new brace, a specially developed mouthguard. I realised how extreme heat can affect one during the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

So, 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.”

On the day of the interview, Anderson was on his way to the cooperation east of Pretoria to buy horse feed and building materials.

He is enlarging the archery shop on his smallholding. Before he can drive off, he must convince his pitbull to leave the bakkie.

“She loves to travel with me,” Anderson explains.

“I am living the life I always dreamt of as a young man. We are totally off the grid and self-sufficient. I have a few sheep and pigs, and we are planting our vegetables. In the morning, I drive 100m, and then I am at the shop and the shooting range on my smallholding. Once a week, I go to Tuks to train.”

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.

The Paris Games is going to be different. In the past, I would speculate about what I might do at the Games. Before the Tokyo Paralympic Games, I told everyone I was competing in honour of my dad, who passed away due to contracting the COVID-19 virus. In Paris, 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 ago. 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.”

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