Christopher Davis (archery)

Lore & Background

Christopher Davis took up archery later in life after witnessing Matt Stutzman, an armless archer, compete at the Paralympics. He began archery in 2019. Davis is classified as a W1 archer, the most impaired Paralympic event, and shoots his compound bow using a mouthtab—biting down on material attached to the string and pushing the bow away to build tension. His first major international event was the 2022 World Para Archery Championships, where he finished seventh in Men's W1. At age 51, he won the gold medal in Men's W1 at the 2023 World Para Archery Championships, defeating Bahattin Hekimoglu 131 to 127. He is a scholarship athlete at the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS).

Reader's Guide

Christopher Davis's gold medal at the 2023 World Para Archery Championships marked a historic milestone for Australian archery, as it was the nation's first ever gold medal at the World Para Archery Championships. Competing in the W1 category—the most impaired classification—Davis demonstrated the effectiveness of his mouthtab shooting technique, which he adopted after being inspired by armless archer Matt Stutzman. His victory at age 51, after taking up the sport only four years earlier, underscores the possibility of late-career achievement in Paralympic sport. Davis's background as a social worker for Queensland Health for twenty years and his personal story of losing limb strength after a virus at age five add depth to his profile. His win over Bahattin Hekimoglu by a 131–127 margin in the final solidified his place in the sport's history. As a scholarship athlete at the Queensland Academy of Sport, he continues to represent Australia in international competition.

Did You Know?

• Davis caught a virus at age five that led to intensive care and loss of strength in his limbs.
• He has worked for Queensland Health as a social worker for twenty years.
• He is married to Donna, an ultramarathoner.