Athlete claims age discrimination almost cost her a spot at Pan Am Games

WATCH ABOVE: A Toronto archer alleges she was passed over for the Pan Am Games due to age discrimination. She fought back to get the place she claims was rightfully hers. Christina Stevens reports. 

A Toronto archer has won an appeal which will see her represent Canada this summer at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.

Kateri Vrakking, 42, finished a solid third in the trials used to determine who would be named to Canada’s archery team.

Even though her score was close to the winner’s she was not named to the team. Instead, a 19-year-old woman who placed a distant fifth was given the spot.

The decision caught Vrakking off guard.

“I was a little bit floored, a little bit aghast, kind of saying, hang on a minute,” said Vrakking. “Why? What? Then I kind of picked myself up. Okay, well, you know you’re going to hear from my lawyer.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I was a little bit floored, a little bit aghast, kind of saying, hang on a minute," said Vrakking. "Why? What? Then I kind of picked myself up. Okay, well, you know you're going to hear from my lawyer."

A solid competitor with several international competitions under her belt, Vrakking felt fair play was important.

READ MORE: Athletes with disabilities hoping to take on able-bodied competitors at 2015 Pan Am Games

“The arrows are on the target, you know. The top three were there, and it was very obvious who the top three were, so why not just let the arrows speak for themselves? Why not just let us do what we do best, and that is compete,” said Vrakking.

Lawyer Mark McMackin jumped at the chance to represent Vrakking.

“Archery Canada has a mandate under the Pan Am Games. It’s a mandate to finish in the top five, not have someone that finished fifth in Canada. That lessens your chances. You want to have your best athletes,” said McMackin.

He alleged Archery Canada was biased against Vrakking because she is an older athlete and doesn’t fit the picture they may have been looking for.

Both sides have reached a settlement agreement which will see Vrakking named to the team.

Archery Canada refused comment saying the case is still ongoing.

Global News has a copy of the completed settlement agreement, signed by Archery Canada.

For her part, Vrakking is trying to just focus on training.

“I haven’t done my ‘woo hoo’ moment yet. I am feeling a little taller these days because a bigger weight is off my shoulders.”

Watch Global News Toronto tonight at 5:30 for more.