WINNIPEG – Christie Lavallée has never let the fact she’s legally blind stop her.
“I only have forty per cent vision in my left eye,” said the St. Ambroise woman. “None in my right.”
Lavallée has been competing in 3D archery for three years.
“I really enjoy the sport,” said Lavallée. “It’s something I’m really good at. I’m also able to compete in this sport where in other sports, I wasn’t able to.”
The 19-year-old captured gold at last year’s Canadian Indoor 3D Archery Championship and a silver medal at the outdoor nationals. Both times, Lavallée beat able-bodied archers.
“Half the time when I go into competitions, no one knows I’m visually impaired,” said Lavallée “When I do tell them, it’s such a big shock to them because I’m competing with them and I can keep up.”
Lavallée has learned to adapt her shooting to make up for her visual impairment.
“A lot of what she does is judging distance,” said Jason Sweet, Lavallée’s coach. “Having no depth perception is really tough to judge distances.”
“I’ve had a lot of help from my coach who’s helped me out and given me pointers on how to pick out different little things like look at trees that are closer and try to figure out how far that is,” said Lavallée.
On top of being a national champion, Lavallée is also studying medicine at the University of Manitoba.
“I don’t see myself as a disabled person,” said Lavallée. “This is what I’ve grown up with my entire life. I just continue on like everybody else.”
Lavallée will receive an Indspire award Friday night at the 21st annual gala. The former National Aboriginal Achievement Awards recognize Indigenous professionals and youth who demonstrate outstanding career achievement.
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