Clarke will gain valuable experience before London 2012 Paralympic archer Mel Clarke is aiming for a medal on her Paralympic Games debut in Beijing in September.
The 25-year-old from Taverham told BBC Radio Norfolk of her 'long road' to China after being selected to represent Great Britain.
Clarke contracted Lyme disease from an infected bite in 2003 which left her paralysed and partially blind.
"I was told at the time that I'd never shoot my bow again so to be going to the games is amazing," she said.
"I have had a lot of support to get there - my hope is to come home with a medal."
Clarke has used a wheelchair from the age of 11 because of an arthritic condition and took up archery when she was 16.
She currently holds 20 county records, 10 national able-bodied records and eight world records, but her hardest battle was not on the field.
It was whilst competing at the World Archery Championships in 2003 that Clarke was left fighting for her life after a tick bite left her infected with Lyme disease.
Yet just five years after her struggle for survival, she flies out to Beijing at the end of August as part of the 12-strong archery squad.
"It is the ultimate sporting achievement to represent your country at that level. It's an opportunity I never thought I'd have because of the bow categories and I'm looking forward to it very much," she said.
Team GB won gold in Athens four years ago, but there will be no team event in Beijing, so Clarke will be competing against her compatriots.
But she insists that vying for glory against her team-mates is something she has been training to do.
"It's going to be difficult because we shoot well together but we're all friends. If one of us knocks the other out we're going to support each other and hope that one of us gets a medal."
Clarke is confident of performing well at the Games but says the experience alone will be a massive help in the run up to London 2012.
"The focus is on Beijing because it is so close, but London is in the back of my mind because it is only four years away.
"I'm looking forward to hopefully competing there in front of family and friends on home soil."
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Clarissa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4715
posted
"Clarke has used a wheelchair from the age of 11 because of an arthritic condition and took up archery when she was 16."
Arthritic condition at age 11? What the heck is that? (sigh)
quote:Originally posted by Clarissa: [QB] "Clarke has used a wheelchair from the age of 11 because of an arthritic condition and took up archery when she was 16."
Arthritic condition at age 11? What the heck is that? (sigh)
"Clarke contracted Lyme disease from an infected bite in 2003 which left her paralysed and partially blind."
She's had it longer than she thinks.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Clarissa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4715
posted
DUH! I didn't even see that sentence!
Thanks for clarifying, Lymetoo and you're right, they don't seem to be linking the "arthritic condition at age 11" to the paralysis and blindness in 2003.
sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
re: "Clarke contracted Lyme disease from an infected bite in 2003 which left her paralysed and partially blind."
If this is so common (as it sounds in the article), why is it almost impossible to get disability from having Lyme?
Too ill to work, not ill enough for disability... yet, we are supposed to be gearing up to set world records in athletics.
Kind os a confusing message if you ask me.
Nothing against the archer Mel Clarke.... The article just sends out a mixed message to people who are ill or who don't know anything about Lyme.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Rianna
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11038
posted
Its a UK article what do you expect!!!!!!
The region that she was bitten has taken many peoples lives and sadly many atheletes in the UK have been struck down by Lyme. Here are just a few examples:-
I read where Canada doctors are discouraged because nothing is being done here in the US to research effective treatment of Lyme and it's co-infections.
Canada has socialized medicine and therefore no means for funding such research, and depends highly on findings in the US.
They know the US is off the mark concerning diagnosis/treatment and ignoring long term treatment.
Is London/England also a socialized medicine?
Are they treating Lyme dx with long term abx at all?
Peedie
Posts: 641 | From So. CA | Registered: May 2008
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