‘Never give up’: Archer Ameera Lee targets a spot at Paris Paralympics

When Ameera Lee signed her young son up to try archery several years ago, the last thing she expected was to fall in love with the sport.

That love has brought the single mother to the brink of qualifying for the Paris Paralympic Games.

And his son, now 15, couldn’t be prouder.

“He’s very supportive; after a while I was a little tired (from the sport) and wanted to take a break… he encouraged me to continue,” Lee said.

There has been a rapid rise in the sport for the 50-year-old man who lives with multiple sclerosis.

Lee made his international debut on the European circuit in Italy in 2018, reaching the quarterfinals of his category.

In 2021 she won the Australian Open, competing against para-disabled and able-bodied competitors, making her the first para-archer to win.

“There are no disadvantages, there is no difference, everyone is on the same line shooting at the same distances,” Lee said.

“It was the best I’ve ever shot and I still use it as my go-to competition.”

Continuing to push

It hasn’t been an easy Paralympic journey for Lee, who missed out on selection for the Tokyo Paralympic Games after being eliminated from a qualifying match.

It’s been a balancing act for the goalkeeper, who is not only a single father, but also works full time.

Lee must also manage his MS symptoms, which can be affected by extreme heat, affecting his motor skills and balance; Training during a hot Sydney summer can be problematic.

Managing your heat intolerance includes using ice packs, air-conditioned rooms, and drinking cold beverages.

“I’ve learned how to control how my body reacts and how to calm my nervous system,” he said.

“You find ways to work to achieve your best performance.”

Selection is not a fact

Archery is open to any athlete with a physical disability or visual impairment and includes both standing and wheelchair events.

When Lee first started archery, he competed standing, but in recent years, due to his MS, he began using his wheelchair.

“Actual sport and performance in sport are very similar in terms of the distances and equipment used by disabled and non-disabled people,” said NSW Institute of Sports senior archery coordinator Mark Wilson.

The objective of this sport is to shoot arrows at a target, from a distance of 70 meters.

Athletes can use a recurve bow or a compound bow, which is what Lee uses.

The compound bow includes mechanical pulleys, scopes, and release aids to help with accuracy.

There are three different classifications in Para-archery: W1, Open and Visually Impaired.

In the Paralympic Games only W1 and Open are contested, with W1 being for athletes with the most significant disability.

Lee competes in the Open category.

Wilson said Australia hopes to send one of its largest archery teams yet to the Paris Games.

Lee earned a quota spot for Australia last year, a spot she still needs to be selected for.

“Their next steps in April are important: the Paralympic testing process on their home turf,” Wilson said.

Lee will know by the end of the month if all the hard work has paid off and if he has made the team.

Beyond the range

Archery has not only brought Lee the Paralympic Games, but it has also impacted his life beyond reach.

It is important for Lee to share her story with her community, through visits to schools and to those living with MS.

“I enjoy talking to people and encouraging them to be their authentic selves, to be their best selves…everyone has something to gain,” she said.

It is this authentic self that Lee brings not only to his life, but also to his sport, and he hopes to encourage other people who are older or living with disabilities to try something new.

“It occurred to me in a place and at a time when things weren’t going so well for me, and I was thinking I can’t stay in this state, I have to keep moving forward.”

“Archery is the beginning of all this, it’s what opened up opportunities for me.”