Hooked After First Arrow

From the first arrow shot from his beginner’s bow six years ago Para-archer Peter Marchant was instantly hooked.

Marchant said he was really reluctant to give archery a go initially, he was 54 years old and struggling with mental health issues.

“A mate of mine was a groundskeeper for an archery club, and suggested I come and give it a go. He knew I was struggling with mental health and thought it might help. I didn’t want to be around other people so we waited until everyone had left and I had a go. It was exactly what I needed,” said Marchant.

Marchant went home, bought a bow online and started shooting rabbits in the paddock.

“It wasn’t long until the rabbit population wasn’t doing so well, my mental health was improving and I was just really enjoying myself.”

Marchant has gone on to become one of the best in the sport and will make his Paralympic debut tomorrow (27 August) in the ranking round.

Sixty year old Marchant is the oldest member of the Aussie Paralympic Team in Tokyo and says he is proof that anyone at any age can take up the sport and get out and have a go.

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Marchant jokes he brings a level of mature style to the Aussie team.

“I have been telling everyone for years, I am old, and they don’t believe me but here I am the oldest member of the team,” he said.

Marchant credits his team-mate Jonathon Milne, 35, who won bronze at the Rio 2016 Paralympics as his inspiration and the reason he decided to give competition archery a go.

“I remember seeing Jono on YouTube, on the podium shooting against able-bodied archers,” said Marchant.

Six years later, Marchant and Milne are rivals, both vying to take home the gold in the Class W2 Compound.

“It feels surreal competing alongside him, something I would never have thought possible six years ago,” said Marchant.

“The truth is we are all here to help each other, that’s what sport is all about.”

“My goal is to shoot as best I can and the outcome will sort itself out. I just feel privileged to be here, representing Australia and competing alongside some great athletes.”

Also lining up for their Para-archery debut is Taymon Kenton-Smith, 26, and Imalia Oktrininda, 41 both competing in the Mixed Team Recurve and the Individual Recurve and the Standing Class and W2 Class respectively.

Watch the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games live and free on Seven and 7plus from August 24 – September 5.

The Aussie team start their Tokyo campaign with the ranking round tomorrow (27 August) at Yumenoshima Ranking Field.

09:00 (10:00 AEST) Imalia Oktrininda, Women’s Individual Recurve – Open Ranking Round
14:00 (15:00 AEST) Peter Marchant and Jonathan Milne, Men’s Individual Compound – Open Ranking Round
14:00 (15:00 AEST) Taymon Kenton-Smith, Men’s Individual Recurve – Open Ranking Round

By: Amanda Scott, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 26 August 2021