61-year-old Kevin Evans from Canada, who gained recognition for his gold medal wins in the World Archery Para Championships in 2007 and 2009, as well as in the Guadalajara 2022 Para Pan American Games in the compound men’s category, has announced his retirement from competitive archery. When asked about his decision, Evans mentioned that he feels it is time for him to step back from competitive archery as he is getting older, and younger archers are emerging on the scene. The presence of injuries and the struggle to maintain fitness for competitions also played a role in his decision.
Despite retiring from competitive archery, Evans is not severing his ties with the sport completely. He will be taking on the role of a development coach for Canada at the upcoming 2024 Pan American Para Championships. Evans has prior experience coaching both able-bodied and para archers at local clubs near his home in Kootenay, British Columbia. He expressed his eagerness to support the next generation of Canadian archers and help in recruiting new talent, as that has been a challenge for the Canadian archery community.
Evans mentioned that one of the reasons he continued in the sport for so long was the lack of successors to take over from the existing archers. By taking on the role of a development coach, Evans hopes to contribute to the growth and success of Canadian archers in the future. His main goal is to offer support to the para team and ensure that