Japanese Paralympic archer Aiko Okazaki, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a 2005 train derailment, welcomed her first child in March and says motherhood is her biggest challenge yet.
She recalls the crash that left her with 377 days in hospital. "There are so many times, especially when I'm looking after my child, when I wish I could use my hands or walk," she said.
After the accident, Okazaki returned to university, found a job and eventually moved to Tokyo. She lived alone and used that independence to push herself forward.
When Tokyo was chosen to host the Paralympics in 2013, she decided to try archery. Her mother, who had experience with the sport, suggested she give it a go. Okazaki had to figure out how to hold and draw a bow while keeping her body stable in the chair.
She eventually earned a place on the Japanese team and competed in the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics. Now, as a mother, she says the biggest hurdle is caring for her new child.
"I know I have to do everything I can to raise this child," Okazaki remarked when a camera captured her gently holding her baby. She added she hopes to coach her child in archery someday, carrying forward the spirit of perseverance she nurtured after the crash.
