CHAISTY Hazel

Classification
Open (World Archery, 30 Sep 2020)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (archerygb.org, 10 Oct 2019)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (archerygb.org, 10 Oct 2019)

Impairment Details
She lost her left leg as a result of a motorbike accident in 2004. The leg was amputated three weeks later. "A van pulled into my lane on the motorway without checking, and I didn't have anywhere to go. We didn't touch but I had to slam my brakes on. I hit the ground and hit the [motorway barrier] with my leg, and it snapped just below the knee. Lying there [in hospital] with a dead leg, I became dispassionate towards the leg. It was like, 'That's not me. That's not part of me. That's dead. The rest of me is alive, take it away'. I thought I'm going to walk better on a prosthetic than I am on this damaged leg. That was my reasoning." (archerygb.org, 10 Oct 2019; podtail.com, 06 Nov 2019)

General
RIO DISAPPOINTMENT FUELS TOKYO FIRE
Speaking in 2019, she said missing out on the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro was ultimately a blessing in disguise. "I was nowhere near ready for [the Paralympic Games] in 2016. I wouldn't have performed to the best of my ability if I'd gone. Rome wasn't built in a day and I've slowly built my game up over the past few years. Even though I didn't compete in Brazil, UK Sport saw I had potential for Tokyo, so I went there on a Paralympic Inspiration Programme to experience the demands of the Games and heighten my chances of success next summer [2020]. I've given so much up over the past four years, like holidays and friends' weddings, because the Paralympic Games is the pinnacle of what we do and I'm desperate to make it to the Games and do as well as I can." (mancunianmatters.co.uk, 15 Oct 2019)

MENTAL CHALLENGES
In 2019 she spoke about her battles with depression since losing her leg in 2004. "It's not about feeling sorry for myself or wanting sympathy from other people about what happened to me. It's a chemical imbalance in my brain that leaves me feeling desperately unhappy for no particular reason. I take strong medication to help with that and I refuse to be ashamed or embarrassed to admit it. I also rely on the skill of our [Great Britain] team psychologist and the bond I have with my coach to help me to cope with being an athlete. At home, I have a wonderful family that I can talk openly about how I'm feeling. All of this together means that I'm confident in fighting my demons as well as my competitors. It's all about having the right people around you and being able to talk." (archerygb.org, 10 Oct 2019)

OCCUPATION
Prior to her accident she worked as a picture framer. After her accident, she has worked in several other creative trades including beekeeping and woodturning. "I was a picture framer for most of my life. After my accident, I tried to continue with that, but it wasn't really possible for tottering about on one leg carrying big sheets of glass and mirror around. So I looked for something else to do. I had a little shop that was called 'The Potting Shed'. It was a tiny little room where I did hanging baskets for people for a couple of years. And then I learnt to be a dog groomer and opened a dog grooming salon in my garage for a while. I loved that as well. I've always been a little bit creative, so any job that was creative, I loved." (insidethegames.biz, 28 Apr 2021; podtail.com, 06 Nov 2019)