A Dunedin para-archer is proving he has true grit between his teeth as he targets new distances at the upcoming New Zealand Masters Games.
Paul Wallace was left semi-paralysed after a skiing accident in 2017.
He suffered a dissected carotid artery following a fall at Coronet Peak, causing a massive stroke.
He spent months in rehabilitation hospitals in Dunedin and Christchurch and after developing aphasia from the stroke, now communicates using a digital aid.
"My stroke has not changed who I am.
"I understand what you are saying but have difficulty speaking," Wallace said.
The para-athlete took up archery about two years ago, using a specialised mouth tab to draw his bow.
His coach Gary Porter said the marksman had made excellent progress since starting the sport.
"Paul has done exceptionally well really ... from nothing to two years ... Paul has gone from shooting ten metres and we are out to sixty [metres] now."
Wallace will aim for 50m-60m at the Masters Games.
"We have got to get to seventy metres to meet qualification for any overseas para games or anything like that, so were are getting very close," Porter said.
Porter said they had experimented with various materials for the mouth tab to find one that could withstand tension without breaking.
"I’ve coached people in wheelchairs before but nobody who only can use one hand.
"So I read up about mouth tabs.
"We first ended up with a very big long one . . . on a very, very light poundage bow because Paul didn’t have a great deal of muscle power to start off with."
As his power increased the tab was shortened and his teeth were examined by a dentist to ensure he had enough stability to hold it in place.
Wallace trains with assistance from Community Care Trust support workers including Caroline Graham, who helps him build the core strength needed to hold the bow while gripping the string.
"We go to the gym with Paul three times a week and we also go swimming because that is really good for his muscles."
Wallace said it was the people who kept him coming back to continue developing his archery.
With the 70m international qualification standard in view, he is targeting a top finish to his summer season during the Masters Games.
• The Dunedin Archery Club is holding a Have-A-Go day this Sunday, from 1pm to 3pm at Chingford Park as a fundraiser to help pay for a path that will enable easier access to the archery range for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues.
