COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - USA Archery is very pleased to announce that the International Paralympic Committee has awarded Team USA an additional quota slot for the 2016 Paralympic Games for the compound open women's division. Samantha Tucker (Nampa, Idaho) was the winner of the three-part trials process we conducted this year and she will fill the slot and join Team USA in Rio this September.
"We are already so proud of the strong team we have selected for Rio and even more excited to have increased Team USA representation at the Paralympic Games this summer," commented National Para Head Coach Randi Smith. "Sam has been shooting very well internationally and is a positive addition to our team. We are very happy she will join us in Rio."
Samantha was overjoyed to hear the news and said the happy tears have not yet stopped since getting the call this morning. "It was last January when Lia [Coryell] and I moved into our apartment in Colorado Springs with the focus of making the national team and then Paralympic team," commented Tucker. She and her friend Lia, who qualified for the U.S. Paralympic Archery Team in the W1 category, made a commitment just a year and a half ago to train full time and pursue their dreams together.
"The fact that both of us are going to Rio is a beautiful story of human perseverance and the spirit of overcoming," added Tucker. "Lia has MS and I'm an amputee, and it's incredible that we're both accomplishing our goals and shooting in Rio together. All the glory goes to God, He keeps me going every day."
Tucker is so excited to continue her training as she gets ready for Rio: "I just have to make sure all of my equipment is together right and make sure I have backup parts. I put in a call to MJ [Rogers] as soon as I got the call, and we're going to make a plan. I've never gone to the Games so I will just continue doing what I'm doing and make sure I'm as ready as possible."
All nominations to the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Archery Team are subject to U.S. Olympic Committee approval.
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