The USA’s Jeff Fabry won gold in the W1 men’s competition at the Beijing 2017 World Archery Para Championships with an arrow upgraded in the final end of his 15-arrow gold medal match with Turkey’s Omer Asik.
“I won my first gold medal at the worlds 14 years ago,” Fabry said. “To be back here again after all this time has passed, it’s amazing.”
Russia’s Konstantin Donskoi claimed bronze.
Fabry has been a constant on the para archery circuit since his first world gold medal in Madrid, Spain in 2003. He serves as a mentor to new Team USA archers, offering support and advice.
“To see where I’ve come from then to here, is amazing,” Fabry said. “I am so proud to be still shooting competitively.”
Fabry was a dominant force in the early 2000s, when he took two bronze medals at his first Paralympics in Athens. Over his career, Fabry has won four Paralympic and six World Archery Para Championship medals.
His last world championship gold medal came a decade ago in Cheongju, Korea in 2007. Fabry finished ninth at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and fourth at the Donaueschingen 2015 World Archery Para Championships.
“I’ve had a lot of injuries and been struggling for a while,” Fabry said. “It feels good to be back on top.”
A drive to succeed is what keeps Fabry going, and knowing he can still win gold is both confirmation of ability and motivation to continue.
“This is what we put all of our hard work into,” Fabry said. “To see that pay off, it never gets old and makes everything worthwhile.”
The 2017 World Archery Para Championships run 12-17 September in Beijing, China.
