‘It’s inspiring’: Teen archer finds way to compete with disability

Edmonton junior high student Kaiya isn't letting her medical conditions stop her from competing in archery. CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny has her story.

Kaiya Day never imagined she’d be on a sports team, but after years competing in archery, she’s become a recognizable member of her school’s archery team.

Day has a congenital condition called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), which impacts the joints.

She has clubbed hands and feet, and was born with her legs curved inwards, something she’s had several surgeries to correct.

The 15-year-old still struggles to walk long distances but has persevered through these challenges to learn archery.

“My principal will sit on a chair and hold the bow at an angle for me. I’ll grab the string with the reverse grip and kind of pull myself back and the string with me, and then angle where I need to shoot,” Day explained to CTV News Edmonton inside her school gym.

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Wabamun School principal Les Worthington spent years working with Day to master the technique.

“There was definitely some trial and error, more so from the point of view of it’s hard to get arrows to stick to the target,” he said.

“Some of the first competitions we had, the arrows would bounce off the target or they would just hit the floor.”

Rewards of inclusion

Despite the bumpy start, Day continued to practise, compete and get stronger, which allowed her to upgrade her bow.

Both she and Worthington say a highlight of competing was an event at the Edmonton Expo Centre a few years ago.

“We were the last ones to finish up and it’s a pretty big venue where there’s 40, 50 kids shooting at a time, and when we turned around and faced the audience, there was a whole bunch of people standing up giving her a big round of applause,” said Worthington.

“People, even to this day, they’ll still tell us when they see her shoot, it’s inspiring.”

Day said it feels good to be part of a team and is grateful to her principal for making it possible.

“It makes me feel very supported and happy that I have someone who trusts me and believes in me,” she said.

Worthington said he wants students graduating from Wabamun School to look back on their experience “feeling like (they were) a part of something.”

“Sports offers that, but in a bigger context, it’s about feeling a part of a community,” he said.

This is Day’s last week at Wabamun School, moving on to high school next year.

She doesn’t know what her future in archery looks like but hopes to continue competing.