Mel Clarke

Lore & Background

Mel Clarke began archery in 1998 through the Girl Guides, and took part in her first international competition in 2002. In 2003, she became the first disabled archer from Europe to compete in an able-bodied event at international level, but during that event she contracted Lyme disease, which caused her to lose sight in her aiming eye. She remodeled her shooting style, developing a stance with her head tilted back to make best use of her working eye.

At the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, Clarke won a bronze medal in the women's individual compound event after being defeated by fellow British competitor Danielle Brown in the semifinal (113–105) and then beating Turkey's Gulbin Su in the bronze playoff. In 2009, she won a gold medal in the team event and a silver in the individual at the World Championships, losing 114–107 to Brown in the final.

In the 2010 European Championships, Clarke did not rank highly in the individual event but won a silver medal with the women's compound team. She failed to make the team for the 2011 World Championships, beaten by Danielle Brown, Pippa Britton, and Sarah Beamish. At the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, she advanced to the final against Brown; after four tied sets, Clarke needed a ten with her final arrow to force a shoot-off but scored a seven, winning the silver medal.

Reader's Guide

Mel Clarke's significance lies in her resilience and adaptability as a Paralympic archer. She was the first disabled archer from Europe to compete in an able-bodied international event, a milestone that highlighted the potential for disabled athletes to compete at the highest levels. Her career is marked by a series of close contests with fellow British archer Danielle Brown, who defeated her in the semifinal of the 2008 Paralympics, the final of the 2009 World Championships, and the final of the 2012 Paralympics. Despite these losses, Clarke consistently earned medals, including a bronze in 2008 and a silver in 2012, as well as a World Championship gold in the team event. Her ability to remodel her shooting style after losing sight in her aiming eye due to Lyme disease demonstrates her determination and technical ingenuity. Clarke's legacy is one of perseverance, as she continued to compete at an elite level while managing both paralysis and monocular vision, and her achievements have contributed to the visibility of disabled archers in international sport.

Did You Know?

• Mel Clarke has used a wheelchair since age 11 after a dance injury paralysed her.
• She lost sight in one eye in 2003 due to Lyme disease contracted during an able-bodied international event.
• She won a bronze medal at the 2008 Paralympics and a silver at the 2012 Paralympics.