Blind Archer Aims for World Championships in Victoria

James Griffiths draws his bow, steadies his breath, and aims at a target he cannot see.

The 46-year-old from Sale, Victoria, discovered vision-impaired archery after Type 2 diabetes took most of his sight. Now he's using touch, sound, and trust to hit bullseyes and chase his dream of competing at the World Archery Para Championships.

"When they say you can't do this and you can't do that, I will prove people wrong," Griffiths said. "Blind people aren't supposed to do this... why not?"

Griffiths found the sport through a local disability advocacy group's trial session and was immediately hooked. He uses a special tactile sight that rests against his hand and wears blackout glasses to level the playing field with other vision-impaired competitors.

Before each round, he familiarizes himself with the range using his cane. After shooting, his support worker uses a spotting scope to locate his arrows, describing their position like numbers on a clock face so Griffiths can build a mental picture of the target.

His coach Peter Bennett, president of Twin City Archers in Morwell, said Griffiths shows exceptional determination. "The challenge is you've got no relationship to the target," Bennett explained. "So he's got to feel for it and listen to the people around him."

Griffiths is one of only about a dozen vision-impaired archers competing nationally. His scores are already ranking well in Australia, and Bennett says his student has the attitude needed to reach the top level.

The journey to archery followed difficult years. Griffiths was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at 19, and complications eventually required a life-saving kidney-pancreas transplant before affecting his vision.

Why This Inspires

Griffiths isn't just targeting medals. He wants to make his granddaughter proud and show others living with disabilities that modified sports can open new doors. His message is simple: find a sport you love and ask if it can be adapted for you.

"I can shoot at a target I can't see, and the only person I'm competing against is myself," he said. His determination proves that the right support and willingness to try can transform limitations into launchpads.