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PUMP
The Samford Progress Association’s free community newspaper printed continuously since 1977.
The ILLAGE
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“Your Community Newspaper, owned by the Samford Community and produced for the benefit of the Samford Community.” 18 OCTOBER 2024
P: 0477 663 696 E: editor@villagepump.org.au NEXT DEADLINE THURSDAY 24/10/2024
PARIS SURPRISES FOR TAYMON If you watched the recent Paralympics in Paris, you may have seen the very entertaining Taymon Kenton-Smith rallying the French crowds in the lead up to his competition, representing Australia in Archery. We asked Taymon to write about his experience. For nearly a decade, Samford Valley Target Archers has been my second home. This supportive community has stood by me through two Paralympic Games cycles, helping me push toward my dreams. Tokyo 2020 was an uphill battle that I fought with all my might, but Paris 2024 was a different challenge entirely. For the first time, we had an Oceania/ Africa Continental Qualifying tournament, and the level of competition was intense. Whole teams of archers from every division came together, turning the Trials into a fierce contest. After Australia secured seven spots for Paris, we unfortunately lost one when Chris Davis had to withdraw due to shoulder surgery. The Paris Trials were especially challenging for me. Although I won the spot for Australia in the Continental Qualifying Tournament, the subsequent Trials two weeks later were marked by torrential rain and fierce winds, which wreaked havoc on the shooting line. After days of constant competition, I found myself trailing by twenty points on the final day, largely due
to injury flare-ups. It all came down to a one-arrow shoot-off between me and fellow Queensland archer Tom Holland. In just fifteen seconds, I had to pull from all my experience to secure my spot for Paris 2024. That moment was a test of everything I had worked for. This year hasn’t been easy. Personal challenges weighed heavily on me, making my journey to Paris feel more like a desperate struggle unlike Tokyo which was a childhood dream. Paris brought its own set of surprises. On my Individual (Head to Head) day,
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conditions were perfect, and I was ready. Throughout the week, I had been winning over the French crowd, chatting with them in my limited French and entertaining both on and off the field. By the time my matches rolled around, the crowd was fully behind me. Winning my first match against China’s Gan Jun, the World Number Four who had knocked me out in the Initial Qualifying Quota, was surreal. The next round was even more intense. I faced Samuel Molina, the World Number One from Mexico. After four tied sets, I edged out a victory in a gripping fifth and final set. My next match, against Korea’s Kwak Geonwi, was one of the highestscoring matches of the Games. The French crowd roared as ten consecutive arrows hit gold on my target, pushing me to victory. Unfortunately, the winds picked up in the semi-finals, and my shoulder injury flared up, leading to a tough loss. I fought through to the Bronze Medal match but finished fourth. Though I didn’t leave with a medal, participating in Paris 2024 is an achievement I’m incredibly proud of. I hope my journey inspires future generations of athletes with disabilities to pursue their dreams and break new barriers. Taymon Kenton-Smith Paralympian