Karate mats to shooting line: Fernandez Jimenez’s rapid rise in para archery

From standing atop the podium in para karate to rebuilding her career on the shooting line, Isabel Fernandez Jimenez’s journey into para archery is defined by reinvention.

In just over a year, the Spanish archer has risen to world number two in the W1 women’s category.

She will next represent Spain at the European Para Archery Championships in Rome next week, where she will continue her progression on the international stage.

A major turning point came when a medical reclassification forced her to step away from competition.

“It was a very hard time for me,” she said. “In my last World Cup, during the medical reclassification, I was told they had to prioritise my health over sport. Although I knew this was a possibility, at that moment this brutal news turned real for me.”

A multiple-time world champion and four-time European champion in para karate, the 38-year-old Spaniard spent years at the top of her first sport, holding the world number one ranking.

Looking back, she remains proud of her achievements and how they continue to shape her mentality as an athlete today.

“Of course, I feel really proud of everything I achieved, both at a personal and sports level.”

“The experience of international competition and being world number one for many years in para karate has given me a background that has helped me perform under pressure in my first international experiences in archery.”

Living with a degenerative illness, she has long viewed sport as a stabilising force, both mentally and physically.

“For me, it’s sport that really helps me cope with my diagnosis. And for me, sport means competition at the highest level.

“I don’t understand my life without sport; I don’t understand my life without competing.”

She started karate at the age of four, entered her first competition at five and was already training in high-performance environments by 11.

Before turning fully to archery, she also competed in para cycling and para powerlifting, experiences that broadened her physical and competitive development across disciplines.

“I learnt that both my body and mind adapt easily to different situations,” she said. “Practising several sports improved my physical capacity. For example, para powerlifting helped me hit harder in para karate, and para canoe helped with endurance.”

The Spaniard admits that while archery continues her competitive journey, it brings new mental demands.

“It has been more a learning process than a challenge, similar to what I experienced in other sports.”

“But mentally, it is the hardest one. Physically, it also pushes my body to the limit due to the outdoor conditions – heat, cold and rain.”

Her introduction to archery came through a programme at the National Paraplegic Hospital in Toledo. After just two months, she decided to pursue the sport competitively and joined a local club.

Her breakthrough came in 2025 at the European Para Archery Cup in Rome, where she won gold on her international debut.

“I attended that competition without expectations, which allowed me to enjoy it and compete calmly,” she said. “That result was a motivational boost, allowing me to return to high-performance competition and giving me confidence for the next challenges.”

This first medal was followed by silver at the second leg of the continental circuit in Nove Mesto, and another silver at the Gwangju 2025 World Archery Para Championships.

In February 2026, she delivered one of the standout performances of her career, shooting 567 points at the Spanish national championships to set a new W1 women’s indoor world record.

“It was a goal, as my training average was already above the record. To achieve it in competition felt like ticking something off the list: goal achieved.”

She emphasises that success is shaped more by preparation and mindset than by time in the sport.

“It is a matter of how you prepare and what attitude you bring to the competition. One of my favorite phrases is whatever you do, do it with passion.”

Looking ahead, she has set her sights on the Paralympic Games, with Los Angeles 2028 as a clear target.

“My goals are the same as when I started sport at four – to represent my country, she said. “Once achieved, that goal became more ambitious: to compete in an Olympic Games, now at the Paralympics.”

Her message to those living with degenerative illnesses or disabilities is shaped by her own journey and belief in sport as a pathway forward.

She sees archery as a sport that offers accessibility and opportunity for anyone willing to try.

“I would tell them to do what they’re passionate about. There are plenty of sports that can be adapted very well to any condition, illness or disability.”

“For me, archery is perhaps the most inclusive. It’s a matter of trying, falling in love with your sport and training with passion every day.”

Para karate image courtesy of Isabel Fernandez Jimenez.