Lakefield Herald Special Report

Disabled athlete a champion archer

by Anita Locke

Vancouver has just completed its 2010 Winter Olympics, and is currently hosting the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, which run from March 12 to 21.

Over 1,300 disabled athletes and team officials from 45 nations are participating in five events – alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. Canadian athletes are doing well in medal standings. There are 64 medal events at the Games.

World class facilities have been built for the athletes to compete in with a focus on accessibility.

Locally, Alec Denys is a disabled athlete, and understands well the hard work that goes into training for such competitions. He has participated in sports for the disabled for almost 30 years.

In 1980, he suffered a spinal cord injury and lost the use of his legs. As part of his rehabilitation he started to shoot bow, and in 1983 competed in the Canadian National Championships for the Disabled in Sudbury, Ontario.

As a member of the Canadian Wheelchair Archery Team in 1984, he competed at the 1984 Paralympics held at Stoke Mandeville, England.

He has also participated in international competitions around the world.

Alec holds a number of Canadian records in archery.

Archery is not the only sport that he is involved with. He’s a member of the Peterborough Patriots ice sledge hockey team, and participates in cross country skiing, ice skating, hand cycling, kayaking, wheelchair basketball and has tried curling.

Alec says, “It’s important for people with disabilities to continue to participate in sports, or, if they’ve never tried, they should get involved.”

The value of sport in the lives of athletes with disabilities extends far beyond its rehabilitative benefits. Sportsmanship, camaraderie, self-esteem building and an active lifestyle are other important benefits.

Nowadays, Alec is training for the upcoming Arizona Cup which takes place in Phoenix in early April. In order to become a member of the National team, he has to qualify in three events, including the upcoming competition, the American Championships in July, and the Canadian Championships in August.

If successful, he will join other athletes who are members of the AWAD (Archers With A Disability) team which is part of the Federation of Canadian Archers.

Alec also sits as Vice Chair on the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee for the County of Peterborough and Township of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield and other organizations and committees that advocate for, and create awareness of, people with disabilities.

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