In his own words: a retrospective on the archery career of Thomas LEZANSKI

As told to World Archery by Thomas LEZANSKI.

I was born in 1947 in Warsaw, Poland. In 1953, at the age of six, I contracted polio. It was in pre-vaccine times – and the disease left me with my left leg in callipers due to muscular atrophy in my leg and buttock.

At age 14, I started archery training under well-known Polish coach Mieczyslaw NOWAKOWSKI. Eight years later I broke my first national record, for a – then – FITA round and, and in 1970 I was eighth at the European Championsips.

Archery was reintroduced into the Olympic sport programme in time for the Munich 1972 Games. It had featured at the 1900, 1904, 1908 and 1920 events, but been absent for 52 years.

I was selected as Poland’s first and only at that time male archer for the national team.

Participating at an Olympic Games is the dream of every athlete. I was overwhelmed with emotions but I was also apprehensive. I was an impaired person – and I didn’t know how I would be welcomed by the sporting community.

But I need not have worried. I was embraced by the national team and other competitors. I felt at home in the Village and was happy to be part of the greatest sporting event on the planet.

The Munich 1972 Olympic Games were marred by a shocking terrorist attack. It actually happened on the day of the archery competition, and the event was delayed.

It was a sad, sad moment for the Olympic community.

We competed, though – and the experience gave me confidence in the power of sport and my ability as an athlete throughout the rest of my career.

In parallel with that sporting career, I studied full-time in the Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering faculty at the Warsaw Technical University, widely regarded as one of the most demanding subject departments at the institution.

After finishing my MSc I was employed by the university to continue my research into the fields of engine combustion. I eventually obtained a PhD in internal combustion engine research.

While working full-time and balancing my training, I missed qualification for the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games by a whisker.

Twenty years later, I competed at my first Paralympic Games – and I attended every one from Atlanta 1996 until Beijing 2008. I collected a team silver medal in Atlanta and an individual silver at Athens in 2004.

During my career I established many Polish national records and won several Polish titles in both able-bodied and impaired competitions.

Although I officially ended my sporting career in 2014, after 53 years in archery, and knowing that I will not represent my country again, I still intend to compete in masters events. My love affair with archery is not over yet.

I still have a hunger for competition and I cannot think about living without the adrenaline rush I get from matching myself against other archers.

Now, also officially retired from work – although I’m still involved in several research projects on a part-time basis – I have more time to spend with my wife, to train for masters events and follow my life-long hobby: making models of vintage cars, planes and ships.

I never regarded myself as a disabled person. Despite the obvious physical handicap, I never thought I encountered barriers preventing me from doing things other could do. I always looked at them as challenges to overcome – and always tried to find a way to beat the task ahead.

Working with students at the university made me feel like I was young. I enjoy teaching and feel strong ties with the youngsters about to make their first steps into the world.

I feel like I’ve lived life to its fullest.

Learn more about the next Paralympic Games at Rio 2016.