KJ Polish: 3-time paralympian returns to Foley.
KJ Polish is back in Foley, competing in the in the Archery Shooters Association Hoyt/Easton Pro/AM, one of his favorite events of the year.
He picked up a bow for the first time in his dad’s sporting goods store when he was three years old, and from that moment on, he was hooked. His teachers would ask him, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” His answer, “I want to be a professional archer.”
“Everybody’s going around saying doctor, lawyer, you know, I’m like, I want to be a professional Archer. My teachers were like, Nah, you want to be a doctor. You want to be a lawyer. You’re never going to be able to do that. You’ll make no money at it”
Four years later, he succeeded in proving his teachers wrong and turned pro, making him the youngest pro ever, but in October 1999 KJ’s life was forever changed. On his way home from a hunting trip, when he was 16, he got in a car accident which left him paralyzed. Doctors said he may never be able to sit up again, let alone stand. That didn’t stop KJ from doing what he loved and chasing his dream. Within a year of the accident, he shot his first pro tournament utilizing a wheelchair and finished third.
The funny thing is, you know, 31 years later, I’m still doing this, traveling the world, getting to see beautiful countries, and living my dream, that’s what it’s all about, you know, people ask, “You don’t ever get tired of it?” “I tell people, and it’s the truth, archery saved my life, and it has, that’s why I love it. I just I feel like a little kid every time I’m out there, every target, every event, I love it.”
KJ went on to win numerous world championships, with trips to the Paralympics. He’s traveled the world competing at the highest level. KJ did pivot mostly into target archery after his accident because of the difficult terrain of 3D archery competitions and he missed it, because that is what sparked his love of archery all those years ago. KJ decided to reach out to ASA and said ‘Hey what can we do?” They promised to do everything in their power to get KJ back to doing what he loved.
“When he said, “Hey, I really, I want to do all these.” We made an effort to have our facilities, get those track paths fixed where a track chair could go down and get to the lanes and not just down the middle, but then you have an uphill to where you have to go shoot so that was our conversation. We really only had one or two venues. The city of Foley here is the most amazing one for him to get around, but the other venues made the changes, and he’s been shooting them ever since.”
KJ has been an advocate for other para archers and those who’d like to get involved in the sport. He’s had several friends reach out, wanting to participate. Because of KJ and the ASA, these competitions are becoming more and more accessible.
“KJ is an ambassador. He says, “Hey, archery is for everybody.” He’s always encouraging people to try it, no matter what they view their limitations might be. KJ is like, “No we can overcome that. Let’s go shoot.” For us as an organization, having somebody like KJ who is just championing this sport, and saying “Hey, archery is for everybody” and to come out and try it. He’s just an awesome individual, and he’s a great resource for us as an organization. We love him.”
