BENNETT Eric

Classification
Open (World Archery, 11 Jan 2021)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (Athlete, 02 Sep 2016)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (Athlete, 02 Sep 2016)

Impairment Details
At age 15 in 1989 he was involved in a car accident, resulting in him having his right arm amputated above the elbow. (Athlete, 02 Sep 2016; teamusa.org, 01 Jan 2012)

General
LAST PARALYMPIC GAMES
He says the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo will probably be his final Paralympic appearance, having competed at the Games in 2008, 2012 and 2016. "I'm at the tail end of my career, this was very likely my last Games, so it's hard to know I'll have to maintain my highest level for another year [due to the postponement of the Games] but this also gives me one more year to be fully prepared and reach my most competitive level so I have my best opportunity to win gold." (usarchery.org, 24 Mar 2020)

PARA ATHLETE REPRESENTATIVE
In 2019 he was elected as World Archery's Para athlete representative. "World Archery's Para committee is now trying to reach out to the countries that may be underserved. To try and introduce them to the sport, show them different abilities, different classes, different adaptive equipment and things like that which are available. Something that I feel is really important is trying to increase the number of medals we [archers] can win at the Paralympic Games. That's a pretty steep hill to climb. But we would like to see more opportunities to win medals. We would also like to see visually impaired archers included in the Paralympic Games. So my goals are to try grow the sport, increase participation and represent the athletes the best I can." (worldarchery.org, 04 Jun 2019)

FURTHER EDUCATION
He has studied for a master's degree in educational supervision at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ, United States of America. (Athlete, 02 Sep 2016)