Our next featured athlete is Lindsey Carmichael, an archer who is currently studying at the University of Texas.
1) Introduce yourself in a few sentences.
My name is Lindsey Carmichael and I am 23 years old. I competed in
Athens when I was 19 and will be representing my country again in
Beijing this September. I am a student at the University of Texas at
Austin and will be graduating in a few more years with a double-major
in English and History, both of which feed into my hobbies of reading
and writing. I am a faithful NaNoWriMo participant and my greatest
dream (aside from holding something shiny and gold while mouthing the
words to our National Anthem) is to see one of my books on the New York
Times Bestseller List in the next decade. Sooner rather than later,
hopefully!
2) How did you get started in archery?
I picked up archery in Middle School at the suggestion of a wonderfully
eccentric math teacher who overheard me complaining to a friend about
our local softball team. He mistakenly thought I was feeling bad that I
couldn't play sports--couldn't be further from my mind, actually--and
so he tried to cheer me up by suggesting I try archery. My friend
thought it sounded incredibly cool and off we went to Austin for a
lesson. Two weeks later, she dropped out and I stayed with it. I really
do owe that teacher so much. He changed my life with a random
suggestion!
3) What is your favorite aspect of archery?
I love that just about anyone in the world can shoot archery. Male or
female. Six years old or eighty-six. You can shoot if you are short,
tall, or skinny as a rail. You can shoot from a wheelchair. You can
shoot if you are missing an arm. You can even shoot if you are blind!
That, to me, is the greatest testament to the level playing field of
archery: in a sport assumed to be incredibly visual, we have archers
who can shoot by feel alone. How amazing is that? And even within the
able-bodied side of the sport, archery has the tendency to level the
field between genders in a way that few other sports can. Because both
sexes shoot at the same distance during Olympic competition, the scores
of each division can be compared--and the archers who come out on top
aren't necessarily the strongest or the most cunning. You see, all it
really takes to be the best archer in the world is mental acuity and
willpower. When I heard that the last few World Record holders in
archery were all women, I have to admit I was totally hooked.
4) What are you most looking forward to about the Paralympics?
To be honest, I am most looking forward to the moment during Opening
Ceremonies when our team walks into the light of the stadium to the
cheers and applauds of thousands upon thousands of people. I'm sure
that the sensation of standing on a podium with your own gold medal
trumps the Opening Ceremonies adrenaline rush, but right now that's
what I remember best from Athens, and that's what I'm looking forward
to most in Beijing. You will never feel more inspired to be a part of
something as you are at that moment. You will grin like a fool, you
will cry, and your teammates will grin and cry around you, and you will
go as one team into that thunderous applause with spirits lifted so
high you can't imagine anything greater than that moment. Four years of
hard work is completely worth it, just for that feeling.
5) What advice/suggestions would you give to Disaboomers about how to stay active/get involved in playing sports?
First, no matter what you do, keep at it to the point of insanity.
You'd be amazed what doors will open to you if you work as hard as you
can.
Second, and most importantly, even when you think you've
got it made, always keep looking for a sport or activity that is right
for you. If you think exercise or sports aren't your thing, then you
just haven't tried enough sports. Don't like basketball? Try swimming.
Don't like swimming? Try skiing. Don't like skiing? Well, then you are
smart. I don't like flinging myself down frozen mountains, either. But
my point is simple--keep searching, keep trying different ways to do
the same thing. We are nothing if not experts at ADAPTING. Let's say
you don't like swimming because you get hot and sunburned. Try out a
membership at an indoor pool. Maybe you are worried about body image.
Try swimming in a waterskiing suit--it covers more and does the job
just the same if not better. Get tired after exercise? Drink half an
energy shake before, the rest afterwards. Get bored with exercise? Try
something new!!!
The best part of being disabled is getting an
excuse to not have to take NO for an answer. The genius basketball
coach John Wooden used to tell his players: "Don't let what you cannot
do interfere with what you can do." The thing that we forget is that we
are the biggest nay-sayers in our own lives. If you hear yourself
saying "no" then instead you should be asking yourself "why not?"
