PARALYMPIC ARCHERY: HOW DOES IT WORK?

Compound was made a distinct discipline at the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008; being mechanically more efficient and allowing for the use of release aids, compounds can be easier for people with certain physical impairments to use, with a wide variety of body shapes and types on the line. Both recurve and compound archers can use a variety of modifications to their bows.

There are two categories in Paralympic archery: W1 and open, with open divided into compound open and recurve open. The classification process is designed to ensure that those competing all have a similar minimum level of impairment, and there are also set rules about what assistive devices may be used.

In each classification, there are men’s individual, women’s individual and mixed team events, so nine gold medals in total are up for grabs. (Paralympic archery does not feature three-person team events, unlike other World Archery para events.)

The W1 classification is for archers who are more impaired; they may have an impairment to their torso and legs, and use a wheelchair. They may shoot either a recurve or compound bow modified from standard rules but there are not separate competitions for the two disciplines, although the vast majority of W1 competitors shoot compound.

In W1, compound and recurve bow draw weight is limited to 45lb and archers are not allowed to use magnifying scopes or levelling bubbles on their sight. W1 archers may also use an assistant to help them load the bow.

The open classifications for compound and recurve are for competitors with an impairment to either the top or bottom half of their bodies. Some athletes may use a wheelchair but others may shoot resting on a stool. Compound open division archers can use magnifying scopes and levelling bubbles and the draw weight is limited to 60lb. Open classification archers compete under essentially the same rules as ablebodied athletes.