Lindsey Carmichael
Encyclopedia
Lindsey Ann Carmichael is a Paralympic Bronze Medalist.
, she experienced a number of bone fractures (leg, hip, and arm) and surgeries to remedy the impact of the disease. This required her to use body casts, crutches and a wheelchair at various times. Her femurs and tibias were eventually rodded with steel and titanium rods.
Lindsey became an archer at Archery Country JOAD, participating on a weekly basis. JOAD is the National Archery Association's acronym for "Junior Olympic Archery Development".
In the ensuing years she set a number of records in her age group, competing as both an able-bodied category as well as an archer with disabilities, setting numerous at the Texas State level, US national records and even world records.
She underwent a 16-hour surgical procedure to shift 2.5 cm of bone from one femur to the other in Dec. 2002 at the Rochester Mayo Clinic, suffering a hip fracture in the process and had to learn to walk again. She competed in a US national tournament just a few months later, finishing 47 of 71 archers.
Lindsey represented the United States in international tournaments starting in 2003 at the International Paralympic Championships in Madrid, Spain where she won a slot for the United States at the 2004 Paralympics.
she set a world record of 603 (out of a possible 720) shooting at 70 meters at a 122 cm target during the qualifying round. Lindsey ultimately finished 6th in Athens as a standing female recurve archer.
On April 1, 2005 she was ranked 8th among all adult able-bodied women recurve archers in the United States, finishing 2nd at the Texas Shootout archery tournament as an (able-bodied) female senior recurve.
She continued to compete, while attending the University of Texas with a double major in English and history, representing the United States by attending competitions in Korea, Slovakia, and England.
She achieved both All-American and Academic All-American status as an archer in both 2006 and 2007 for UT.
In 2006 Lindsey finished in the National Archery Championship US Open in 5th place as an able-bodied archer.
with a bronze medal by shooting a score of 105 (out of a possible 120), the highest women's recurve score of the day. This marks the first time ever that an American woman won a medal in Paralympic Archery competition, and the first time in 34 years that an American woman medalled in singles archery competition in any Olympic Games.
During her time in Beijing, she kept a blog called Rings and Arrows, which received some attention after exposure on Metaquotes.
, and to complete her studies and continue to shoot. Lindsey assumed a double-major class load in English and History. She successfully completed several 50,000 word novels in the National Novel Writing Month
project while at UT. She also worked continually as an administrative assistant at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Austin
In 2009 as an outstanding student she was honored with the Mike Wacker award by the Texas Parents Association She won numerous writing awards in the English Department during her time at UT, including a scholarship that is best summarized in an article published by the UT Exe Association's bimonthly publication, The Alcalde .
Just prior to her graduation in May of 2011 she was honored as one of only twelve students from the entire graduating class recognized with the "Dean's Distinguished Graduate Award" . She decided to join the University of Texas Exes Association with a lifetime membership in March of 2011.
She intends to continue studies in order to further her authoring skills and acquiring broader abilities in computer-based creative writing projects.
Early years
She spent her first years in Uvalde, TX, and then moved to Austin and then Lago Vista, TX where she attended middle and high school. Diagnosed at the age of 4 with McCune-Albright syndromeMcCune-Albright syndrome
McCune–Albright syndrome, described in 1937 by Donovan James McCune and Fuller Albright, is a genetic disorder of bones, skin pigmentation and hormonal problems along with premature puberty.-Symptoms:...
, she experienced a number of bone fractures (leg, hip, and arm) and surgeries to remedy the impact of the disease. This required her to use body casts, crutches and a wheelchair at various times. Her femurs and tibias were eventually rodded with steel and titanium rods.
Archery career
At the age of 13 while in middle school, a math teacher overheard her discussing with a friend the lack of PE (physical education) options for students in wheelchairs such as herself. He suggested she try archery.Lindsey became an archer at Archery Country JOAD, participating on a weekly basis. JOAD is the National Archery Association's acronym for "Junior Olympic Archery Development".
In the ensuing years she set a number of records in her age group, competing as both an able-bodied category as well as an archer with disabilities, setting numerous at the Texas State level, US national records and even world records.
She underwent a 16-hour surgical procedure to shift 2.5 cm of bone from one femur to the other in Dec. 2002 at the Rochester Mayo Clinic, suffering a hip fracture in the process and had to learn to walk again. She competed in a US national tournament just a few months later, finishing 47 of 71 archers.
Lindsey represented the United States in international tournaments starting in 2003 at the International Paralympic Championships in Madrid, Spain where she won a slot for the United States at the 2004 Paralympics.
Athens Paralympics
While at the Athens Paralympics in 20042004 Summer Paralympics
The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
she set a world record of 603 (out of a possible 720) shooting at 70 meters at a 122 cm target during the qualifying round. Lindsey ultimately finished 6th in Athens as a standing female recurve archer.
On April 1, 2005 she was ranked 8th among all adult able-bodied women recurve archers in the United States, finishing 2nd at the Texas Shootout archery tournament as an (able-bodied) female senior recurve.
She continued to compete, while attending the University of Texas with a double major in English and history, representing the United States by attending competitions in Korea, Slovakia, and England.
She achieved both All-American and Academic All-American status as an archer in both 2006 and 2007 for UT.
In 2006 Lindsey finished in the National Archery Championship US Open in 5th place as an able-bodied archer.
Beijing Paralympics
In 2008 Lindsey finished competition for the USA at the Summer Paralympics in BeijingUnited States at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
The United States sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. A total of 213 U.S. competitors took part in 18 sports; the only 2 sports Americans did not compete in were soccer 5-a-side and 7-a-side. The American delegation included 16 former members of the U.S....
with a bronze medal by shooting a score of 105 (out of a possible 120), the highest women's recurve score of the day. This marks the first time ever that an American woman won a medal in Paralympic Archery competition, and the first time in 34 years that an American woman medalled in singles archery competition in any Olympic Games.
During her time in Beijing, she kept a blog called Rings and Arrows, which received some attention after exposure on Metaquotes.
Collegiate Experience
She returned to the University of Texas, where she was selected to be a member of the oldest honor society on campus, the Friar SocietyFriar Society
The Friar Society is the oldest honor society at the University of Texas at Austin.-Origins:The Friar Society was founded in 1911 by Curtice Rosser and Marion Levy. Eight members were initially selected in the charter group...
, and to complete her studies and continue to shoot. Lindsey assumed a double-major class load in English and History. She successfully completed several 50,000 word novels in the National Novel Writing Month
NaNoWriMo
National Novel Writing Month is an annual internet-based creative writing project which challenges participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel between November 1 and November 30...
project while at UT. She also worked continually as an administrative assistant at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Austin
In 2009 as an outstanding student she was honored with the Mike Wacker award by the Texas Parents Association She won numerous writing awards in the English Department during her time at UT, including a scholarship that is best summarized in an article published by the UT Exe Association's bimonthly publication, The Alcalde .
Just prior to her graduation in May of 2011 she was honored as one of only twelve students from the entire graduating class recognized with the "Dean's Distinguished Graduate Award" . She decided to join the University of Texas Exes Association with a lifetime membership in March of 2011.
She intends to continue studies in order to further her authoring skills and acquiring broader abilities in computer-based creative writing projects.