Karen Van Nest
Canadian Paralympic archer and shooter with six Games appearances.
Karen Van Nest is a Canadian athlete who competes in both Paralympic archery and shooting. She has taken part in six Paralympic Games and has won medals at the Parapan American Games.
Originally from North Bay, Ontario, Van Nest lost her left leg in a motorcycle accident when she was 23. She took up shooting in 1996 and made Canada’s Paralympic team two years later. At the 2000 Paralympics she placed fourth, followed by a fifth-place finish in 2004 and a tenth-place finish in 2008. In 2006, she earned a bronze medal at the world championships in rowing.
Van Nest started para archery in 2008 at age 46, switching from shooting because of problems with her right shoulder. She made her Paralympic archery debut at the 2012 Summer Paralympics. At the 2014 Pan Am Championships, she won bronze in the women’s compound open and silver in the mixed team event. The following year, she took silver at the 2015 Parapan American Games in the women’s compound open, losing by eight points to Brazil’s Jane Karla Gögel. At the 2016 Summer Paralympics, she placed fourth in the same event. She won gold in the women’s compound open at the 2017 Para Pan American Championships and bronze in that event the next year. Van Nest also competed in archery at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Quick Facts
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Birth Date
- 29 September 1962
- Birth Place
- North Bay, Ontario, Canada
- Sport
- Para Archery / Paralympic shooting
- Event
- Compound
- Coach
- Phil Henderson
- Medal Templates
- Para Archery / Parapan American Games / 2015 Toronto · Women's compound
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Karen Van Nest began shooting in 1996 and qualified for Canada’s Paralympic team in 1998. She placed fourth at the 2000 Paralympics, fifth at the 2004 Paralympics, and tenth at the 2008 Paralympics. In 2006, she won a bronze medal at the world championships in rowing. At age 46, she switched to para archery in 2008 after experiencing problems with her right shoulder. She made her Paralympic archery debut at the 2012 Summer Paralympics. At the 2014 Pan Am Championships she won bronze in the women's compound open and silver in mixed team. She won silver at the 2015 Parapan American Games in women’s compound open, losing by eight points to Jane Karla Gögel of Brazil. At the 2016 Summer Paralympics, Van Nest came fourth in the women's compound open. She won gold in the women’s compound open at the 2017 Para Pan American Championships and bronze in the same event the following year. She competed in archery at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Reader's Guide
Karen Van Nest's career spans two Paralympic sports—shooting and archery—and includes six Paralympic Games appearances. Her switch from shooting to archery at age 46, prompted by a shoulder injury, demonstrates adaptability across disciplines. She has earned medals at the Parapan American Games, Pan American Championships, and world championships (in rowing). Her consistent presence at the highest level of competition, including a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Paralympics, marks her as a notable figure in Canadian Paralympic sport. Her achievements reflect sustained performance over decades, from her shooting debut in 1996 through her archery competition at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Did You Know?
- She began para archery in 2008 at the age of 46.
- She won a bronze medal at the 2006 world championships in rowing.
- At the 2015 Parapan American Games, she lost the gold medal match by eight points to Jane Karla Gögel of Brazil.
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