Eric Bennett

Eric Bennett, born on November 4, 1973, in Phoenix, Arizona, began his archery journey at the age of seven. His early involvement in the sport laid the foundation for a distinguished career. In 1988, at 15 years old, Bennett was involved in a car accident that resulted in the loss of his right arm above the elbow. After a period away from archery, he returned to the sport with a modified bow, demonstrating an ability to adapt and excel despite physical challenges. He pursued higher education at Northern Arizona University and later became a high school physics and engineering teacher in Surprise, Arizona. In this role, he even taught Olympic archer Brady Ellison, highlighting his connection to the broader archery community.

Bennett’s competitive career in para-archery began to gain momentum when he joined the U.S. national team in 2007. He quickly established himself on the international stage, making his Paralympic debut at the Beijing Games in 2008. Over the years, Bennett has achieved significant milestones, becoming the first American to compete in two different disciplines (Compound and Recurve) at two different Paralympic Games. He also holds the distinction of being the first American to win a World Championship in the Para Recurve division. His career highlights include multiple appearances at the World Para Archery Championships, securing gold and silver medals.

His Paralympic journey includes five appearances: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. At the London 2012 Games, he reached the bronze medal match, finishing fourth. He has consistently placed well in various individual and team events at both the Paralympic Games and World Championships, with notable finishes such as 8th in Rio 2016 and 9th in Tokyo 2020. Bennett’s career is marked by his consistent performance and his role as a pioneering figure in American para-archery.