20 July 2021
ParalympicsGB announces two new members of Tokyo 2020 archery team
ParalympicsGB has today named two further athletes who will be heading to Tokyo for the rescheduled Paralympic Games - Phoebe Paterson Pine and Victoria Rumary.
They will bring the Para archery team size up to seven athletes.
Paterson Pine and Rumary earned their spots at the qualification events in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, which took place earlier this month.
Rumary took the gold in the W1 Women Open competition, winning a quota spot for Tokyo.
In the Compound Women Open, Paterson Pine also took gold and secured her space in the squad heading to the Games.
The pair, both heading to their first Games, join the five other members of the Para archery squad already named – Dave Phillips, Nathan Macqueen and Hazel Chaisty along with Paralympic gold medallists Jess Stretton and John Stubbs.
I’ve worked really hard through an unimaginably tough year
Phoebe Paterson Pine
Phoebe Paterson Pine, a student at Worcester University, originally from Cirencester, said: “I am incredibly happy to have been selected, it means a lot to me because I’ve worked really hard through an unimaginably tough year while maintaining my grit and determination.
“I feel like going to the Games is representative of the work I have put in, the time spent on my form and my mental game the most, especially fighting my depression and anxiety.
“The effort is all showing now and being able to go there to show my abilities through that work means a lot.”
I thought that dream was over… however; it wasn’t and here I am off to my first Games
Victoria Rumary
Victoria Rumary, a former non disabled archer from Scunthorpe, said: “I am really excited. Going to the Games means everything to me, it’s amazing.
“I’ve always dreamt of going to a Games but when I ended up in a wheelchair, I thought that dream was over… however; it wasn’t and here I am off to my first Games.”
Paralympic Team Leader Tom Duggan said: “I am absolutely delighted that Phoebe and Victoria have been selected for Tokyo.
“Phoebe was in Rio on the Paralympic Inspiration Programme in 2016, and over the past five years despite some injury setbacks, has worked incredibly hard to win the spot. She demonstrated what a match play competitor she is in the qualification event in Nove Mesto last week to win her spot in a one arrow shoot off.
“Victoria has done brilliantly to win her spot, having had a difficult 18 months, during which she was forced to shield during the lockdown. Throughout she continued to work hard with what she could do at home, and since coming back into the training environment has persisted with pushing herself. We are looking forward to seeing what she is capable of in Tokyo.”
Tokyo 2020 Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said: “I’m so pleased to be able to welcome Phoebe and Victoria to the ParalympicsGB team for Tokyo 2020. Both athletes have shown terrific skill and determination in securing their places on the Para archery squad and I now look forward to accompanying them on their journey to Tokyo”.
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