Guillaume Toucoullet

Started: He took up Para archery in 2017. Before sustaining his impairment, he practised Basque pelota from age six to 14, and was also a rower. After his accident, he took up Para rowing. "Sport helped me bounce back and accept my impairment." (worldarchery.sport, 02 Mar 2020) Reason: "I was in front of an archery stand and I was invited to try to shoot with my mouth. I thought it was a crazy challenge and I tried it. I loved the feeling of shooting and controlling the bow. At the time of release there is a sort of explosion of energy. I like archery because it's a sport that requires a lot of concentration and precision. It's very technically demanding, but also in bow set-up and maintenance. What I like above all is the bow itself and the way it reacts. And the sensation of shooting too, although it took me a little bit of time to appreciate that properly." (france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr, 22 May 2023; worldarchery.sport, 02 Mar 2020) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris and to compete at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. (francetvinfo.fr, 07 Dec 2023; bleushandisport.com, 07 Oct 2020) Awards: In 2023 he was named Male Para Archer of the Year by World Archery. (worldarchery.sport, 29 Dec 2023) Additional Info: FROM ROWING TO ARCHERY He took up rowing at age 14 and moved into Para rowing after his accident in 2010. He won national titles in the sport in 2014 and 2015 but after failing to make the French team for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, he decided to switch to Para archery. "I turned to archery with the intention of giving up competition. The two sports are very different. Rowing was team-based, archery is very individual. Even if I shoot alone, I need to retain that team spirit with the French squad. But above all, I need to create that team with my coach. I think I've achieved such good results so quickly because I listen to my coaches, I am determined and a bit of a perfectionist, maybe excessively. And now [in 2021] here I am, hooked on archery, with the desire to learn and get that buzz on the shooting line. These good results have strengthened my resolve. My choice was correct, and now I have new goals." (archysport.com, 07 Jul 2021; worldarchery.sport, 02 Mar 2020)