Ex-rugby player Nathan Macqueen shooting for gold at Paralympics
FORMER rugby prodigy turned paralympic archer Nathan Macqueen could fulfil a life’s ambition today for Team GB in Paris.
Macqueen was a promising age-grade prospect for Glasgow Warriors, playing alongside several future Scotland internationals before a serious motorbike accident on his way to work left him paralysed from the waist down.
The 33-year-old came up the ranks at Dumfries Saints and turned out for Warriors U18s.
But he thought his life was over after the horrific crash in 2009.
Through the support of his family – in particular his mum and his wife Tara – Macqueen found a new sporting love.
Not in wheelchair rugby, but with his childhood passion of archery.
Paris hopes
A recent illness saw Macqueen drop from world number one to number four, but he’s back on top form targeting a maiden Paralympic medal at his third attempt in Paris.
He told TRP: “I’ve been shooting pretty well. I ended up with a chest infection recently which set me back a wee bit but I’m back to shooting my best.
“Things started to ramp up about a month ago and I’m just trying to hold the level.
“To be back at a Games is amazing. I never thought I would make one Games never mind my third.
“It’s exciting to be in Paris. Having missed London this is the closest I can be to a home Games.
“You can’t compare it to Rio or Tokyo.
“I watched the archery at the Olympics and it looked like a big old crowd, so I planned for that.
“It’s been the biggest crowd I’ve ever shot in front of. I’m relishing it but also ignoring it so I don’t get too nervy or excited.
“I’m trying to ignore everything, not look up, just focus on me and the target – as archery is all about the mental side.”
Tough journey
Macqueen finished sixth – and recorded a season’s best score – in Thursday’s opening ranking round ahead of today’s finals.
The father-of-one is returning to his 2023 form, when he took European Championship and European Cup golds, alongside a World silver, to rocket to the top of the global standings.
It’s been a journey Macqueen never dreamt could be possible after his accident at 18-years-old.
He said: “I was working during the recession and the company I was with didn’t have any work one week so my dad let me come and work with him.
“I was driving there one day and crashed my motorbike. I ended up breaking my back in three places, broke both my legs, all my ribs, internal bleeding and two punctured lungs, so I was a mess.
“After six months in hospital, I really missed playing sport, but I didn’t think I’d be able to do anything sporting again.”
Hoping to inspire others
Macqueen admits missing the game he grew up playing.
But he hopes his journey from the hospital bed to three Paralympic Games can help inspire others with disabilities to give sport a try.
He said: “I still love watching rugby. I get a wee bit frustrated that I can’t stand up and play for 80 minutes and sit back in my wheelchair.
“When I first had my accident, I thought my life was over.
“But I soon realised there was a life after a spinal injury. It was my mum who picked me back up, and just said I had a different path.
“Getting back into a sport played a big part of me becoming me again.
“You can do anything as long as you put your mind to it, and if life throws little obstacles, just try and laugh them off.”
READ MORE: Louis Rees-Zammit’s NFL dream still alive
