Paralympian Archer Set to Represent SWFL, Team USA in Tokyo

From picking up a bow and arrow for the first time when she was ten, to the Tokyo Paralympics, Emma Rose Ravish has become one of the world’s best Paralympian archers. She is set to represent Southwest Florida and Team USA in Tokyo.

Growing up, Ravish had tried soccer and horseback riding but when she shot an arrow for the first time there was something different.

“I don’t know exactly what I was feeling,” Ravish said. “I just knew that it made me smile with everything that I am.”

That immediate passion for archery was noticed by a coach at the Victory Junction camp, a summer camp for children with serious medical conditions.

“He said ‘I am going to see you on TV one day’ after the first two arrows I shot and I was like ‘oh you are kidding like that’s funny,” Ravish said.

The coach saw something before anyone else. After taking a silver medal at a competition in Mexico earlier this year, Ravish is set to compete on the biggest stage the sport has to offer when she represents Team USA in Tokyo.

“It had been months of competing to build up to that moment of saying congratulations you are on the Paralympic team,” Ravish said.

Months of competing overlapped with a year of training unlike any other but one like everything else she took in stride.

“Her personality she is just all and you know and whatever it is she is doing and she really pulled through and she pulled through and continued to improve her score as she went along,” Team USA Paralympic Archery head coach George Ryals said.

Ravish is used to challenges and chooses to embrace them, like wanting to become the first Paralympian archer to compete in the Olympics, starting in Paris and then Los Angeles.

“Even 2032 is in Brisbane so as long as my shoulders and arms keep up I’m going to keep up,” Ravish said.

A goal that according to her coach, is very much attainable.

“I have no doubt that she will be able to accomplish whatever it is that she decides that she wants to accomplish because she has the work ethic and she’s not scared to just jump in,” Coach Ryals said.

First, it’s Tokyo and she’s locked in with a clear goal ahead of the games.

“Of course I want to take home the gold that is always the ultimate goal. I am not counting myself out from that at all,” Ravish said.

Another challenge she’s set hit the bullseye. The opening ceremony for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo will be on August 24.

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