Para archery was the first sport where wheelchair athletes had organised competition and was one of the original Paralympic sports at Rome 1960.
It is open to athletes with physical impairments who may shoot with assistive devices allowed under classification rules. The sport tests accuracy, strength, and concentration. It includes specific competition categories for athletes with certain classifications.
In para archery, the target size and distance archers stand from the target differs based on the competition category. In individual events, archers shoot 72 arrows at the 10-circle target, divided into 12 ends of six arrows each. Each athlete is allowed four minutes per round. The top-scoring athletes advance to 15-arrow head-to-head matches, which are single-elimination.
An archer using a recurve bow shoots at a target 122cm in diameter, 70m away from the shooting line. A compound archer shoots at a target 80cm diameter and stands 50m away.
Men’s and women’s individual and mixed pair events for compound and recurve bows are contested at the Paralympic Games.
To start the competition, athletes take part in a ranking round. They must shoot 72 arrows in 12 phases of six arrows each, with four minutes allocated to each phase. Their combined score from the 72 arrows determines their ranking which, in turn, determines the draw for the individual and team events.
In the individual events, matches are decided over the best-of-five sets, with three arrows per athlete per set.
In the team events, teams of three compete against each other in a best-of-24-arrows format.
Hypertonia | Impaired Muscle Power |
Ataxia | Impaired Passive Range of Movement |
Limb Deficiency | Vision Impairment |
For illustrated explanation please click on the button below.
Paralympic archers with a physical disability compete in two sport classes:
W1
Archers in this sport class compete in a wheelchair because their impairment includes the loss of leg and trunk function. Also, their arms show a loss of muscle strength, coordination, or range of movement. For example, one condition that might fit this sport class profile is tetraplegia.
Open
Archers who historically competed in the W2 and ST sport classes have been merged together as their impairments have an equal impact on the outcome of competition. Archers in this sport class may have a strong activity limitation in their trunk and legs and compete in a wheelchair. Their arms, however, show normal function. This profile would likely apply to paraplegic archers. Also, in this sport class athletes compete in a standing position, they require some standing support because of poor balance. This class includes athletes with an amputation of the forearm above the wrist or amputation of the lower 1/3 of the leg.
B1
No light perception in either eye, up to light perception. No recognition of hand movement at any distance or any direction. Athletes wear a blindfold.
B2
From the ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 2/60. Athletes do not wear blindfolds.
B3
From visual acuity of above 2/60 up to visual acuity of 6/60. Athletes do not wear blindfolds.
To be eligible to apply for a national classification, athletes must:
Athletes who don’t meet the list of criteria above may still be evaluated by the classifiers by prior arrangement. However, he/she will only receive a provisional class in order to facilitate them to compete this year.
This list includes active athletes who have been classified at national and/or international level. Click Here to access the Masterlist.
Archery Ireland is the National Governing Body for para archery in Ireland. If you wish to get involved in para archery, please access the National Governing Body link below.
National: Archery Ireland www.archery.ie
International: World Archery www.worldarchery.org
summary
events