Shaun Anderson: South African Paralympic archer defies all odds and wants to advance the sport

(CNN) A superhuman is defined as someone who has exceptional ability or power, but for two-time Paralympic archer Shaun Anderson, it has a deeper meaning. The word is written on his loop next to the hashtag “I am possible”. Both phrases are a reminder of the strength and willpower it took to get through some of his darkest days.

At the age of 32, Anderson had his arm amputated after a motorcycle accident in 2004. The naturalist says sport has always been an outlet for him and he quickly got into archery. Anderson rose through the ranks and represented South Africa at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. However, tragedy struck again the following year when Anderson was paralyzed from the waist down in a boating accident.

He fought to return to his sport and once again represented South Africa at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Since February, the 50-year-old has held 35th place in the world rankings in the W1 category for men. Anderson says his next goal is to qualify for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris and to raise awareness of the sport across South Africa and across the continent.

CNN spoke to Anderson at the 2022 African Archery Championships, being held in Pretoria, South Africa – the first time para events have been included in the competition.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Shaun Anderson attending the 2022 African Archery Championships in Pretoria, South Africa.

CNN: Tell us about your trip. What inspired you to start para archery?

Anderson: Me and my son do everything together. We used to fish together but after that we moved back to Victoria [a suburb of Johannesburg], we had nothing to do at the weekend. So we saw a bow shop and went inside. My son started archery and I said, ‘If he does it, I’ll do it with him.’

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I won the World Indoor Championship. And then I met this amazing woman named Barbara Manning [who would become his coach] and I said to her, ‘I want to go to the Olympics,’ and that’s when my journey began. So it’s been a roller coaster ride for the last almost 14 years. It was up and down. But my trip was great. I met great people along the way. I overcame so many obstacles just to get to where I am.

Shaun Anderson (centre) cheers on the archers at the African Archery Championships with his son (left) and friend Philip Coates-Palgrave (right).

CNN: You have proven to be a perennial optimist. In your second accident you were paralyzed from the waist down. how did you recover

Anderson: That was hard. We were so close to Tokyo (Paralympics) that I was really preparing for Tokyo. We took our first vacation as a family in four years and we did one of the things I loved most and that is deep sea fishing with my family. So, that was hard, you’re going away from the top of the world – just come back from Rio and going to Beijing. Yes, you lost a limb and now you suddenly lost your legs. And three months of rehab wasn’t easy. As an Olympian in rehab, you’re like, “Oh man, I can get through this. I’m an Olympic athlete. Give me what you want to give me.’ It’s been the hardest three months of my life, but keep at it.

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CNN: What led to your decision to return to archery after the second accident?

Anderson: People look at me and say, ‘You know, Sean, you took so many hits. It’s one thing at a time’ and I’m just like, ‘I don’t know how to give up.’ Even when I’m at my lowest, I always sit down and I’m like, ‘Okay, what’s the bad thing? What is the good?’ And always the good things outweigh the bad things.

I mean, I tried to commit suicide twice when I was young. And then I tried it a few years ago after my (boat) accident. I came back from the World Cup and I just felt like I was the biggest burden on my family. I thought, ‘I have nothing to live for and why am I still doing this?’ And I mean, I’m just one of those guys who thinks I can beat anything. So far I haven’t beaten that, but I accept it now and live with it. But it helps to have a good team around you and that’s why I had my team around me. That day was near and I will never go back there, ever in my life. I promised myself, promised my wife and kids, no matter how bad it gets.

CNN: You’re all about community — it’s a big part of what you do. Why did you decide to coach others?

Anderson: (The Covid-19 pandemic) destroyed all my coaching, it just ground to a halt. I want to get back into it next year. I want to start coaching again. i miss the kids (Coaching) is huge to me because that’s who I am. It gives something back and that’s important. I have reached the summit; I’ve reached the top of my game. But for me, the dream is to bring the next person to that level. My dream is to one day be the manager of the team.

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CNN: What does success mean to you?

Anderson: For me, success has nothing to do with material things. It’s not about gold medals. It’s not about what car you drive. It’s about: are you happy in the life you are living? Are you satisfied with what you have achieved?

That my children look up to me, my wife, that is success. You can’t replace that. You could have all the money in the world, but it won’t buy me new legs, won’t give me an arm.

Shaun Anderson takes first place in the men’s W1 category at the 2022 African Archery Championships.

CNN: What is your vision for para-archery across Africa?

Anderson: At the next African Games [in 2023], I want 20 para archers on the line. I want to see para archers from Egypt and everyone there. This is my dream. My goal now is to spread the word out there. In Europe and the rest of the world (para archery) is huge. We are lagging behind Africa at the moment.

Watch the full episode of African Voices with Shaun Anderson here

Let’s get the boys out of there and give them something to work for. My dream is to go to a World Cup and see Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and everyone walk in – and it’s not just South Africa coming through the gate. It’s going to be a big thing for me if one day I’m going to be able to give medals to other athletes after I’ve quit and be like, ‘You did it mate.’

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide, here are ways you can help.
If you live in the United States and are having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (800-273-TALK) for free and confidential support. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For crisis support in Spanish, call 888-628-9454. TrevorLifeline, a suicide prevention counseling service for the LGBTQ community, can be reached at 866-488-7386. Befrienders Worldwide connects users to the closest emotional support center for the part of the world they live in.