David Drahoninsky

Started: He took up the sport in 2001 at age 19 in Janske Lazne, Czechia. (Athlete, 26 Aug 2024, 21 Aug 2021) Reason: "I wanted something to do to fill my free time, so that I would not just sit in my wheelchair and watch TV. But then in high school, when I tried archery at the sports club the coach told me that if I trained hard, I would win the Paralympics. After my injury I could not play hockey, taekwondo, or football, so I started archery." (World Archery Facebook page, 31 Aug 2023; Athlete, 26 Aug 2024, 21 Aug 2021, 06 May 2012) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (flowee.cz, 09 Nov 2023) Milestones: He became the first Czech archer to win more than one Paralympic gold medal in the sport when he triumphed in the men's individual W1 event at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, having previously won men's individual compound W1 gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing. (SportsDeskOnline, 21 Jul 2024) Awards: In 2023 he was inducted into the Czech Archery Association Hall of Fame. (Cesky Lukostrelecky Svaz Facebook page, 02 Dec 2023) He was named Para Archer of the Year for 2023 by the Czech Archery Association. (Cesky Lukostrelecky Svaz Facebook page, 17 Nov 2023) He was named among the 10 Best Para Athletes of the Year for 2019 by the Czech Paralympic Committee. (sport.ceskatelevize.cz, 29 Jul 2020) He and his partner in the mixed W1 team event, Sarka Musilova, were named the Czech Paralympic Committee Team of the Year for 2018. (caths.cz, 28 Feb 2019) Additional Info: MEDAL DEDICATION He dedicated his victory in the W1 individual event at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo to his late father, who passed away in 2019. "When I went to my first Games in Beijing [in 2008], I was so excited to be there. Eventually my dad went to the Games as an assistant and it was absolutely wonderful. The Paralympics in Tokyo, in 2021, were special because in 2019 my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and five months later he succumbed to the disease because cancer is a tough opponent. But I actually managed to get nominated for Tokyo during his illness, and when my dad was dying, I promised him to win a medal. I made good on that promise in Tokyo, so great. I took one step at a time to make that dream come true for my dad." (World Archery Facebook page, 31 Aug 2023) BOOK In 2023 he released a biography that was written with Veronika Mackova. (Facebook page, 06 Apr 2023)