At last year’s Golf & Tennis Challenge, Black Enterprise introduced the game of archery into the fold.
BlackEnterprise.com sat down for a one-on-one with acclaimed archer Babette Peyton, a charismatic, gold medal toting, service-disabled veteran, who spoke of overcoming obstacles and striving to win, no matter the circumstance.
BlackEnterprise.com: When did you acquire a passion for archery?
Peyton: It all started when I attended a military Paralympic sports camp. To be able to attend you had to participate in every sport. For example, they had field sports, they had javelin, they had discus, they had shotput, they had it all. At the camp, the covenant that they made us sign was that we would participate in any and all sports that they had, because they could help us to do it. It didn’t matter your disability.
So I had to do archery, although I wasn’t too happy about that. With the rest of the activities I did my best to try; this one I met with resistance. This guy ended up helping me. He went into his bag and pulled out some leather, cut it, put it on the string, and told me I had my right hand–that was my good hand–[and] I could hold the bow. The bow was about two pounds. He asked me if I had any dentures, I said no. He said ‘Good, because you see this little thing I put on here? You’re going [to] grab that with your teeth and pull the string back. Look at that bullseye and, when you’re ready, just let it go. Don’t worry about where it hits.’
The first two shots I hit were bullseyes. The second shot was almost a Robin Hood. It was so close.
Did your military training offer any advantage to you as an archer?
When I went to the military, I qualified [as an] expert on a M16 white 200, and I also qualified [as an] expert on a 45 pistol. I had those designations. I know how to move around, I know how to move out. As a woman soldier, I dealt with a lot of adversity so that prepared me to deal with this type of situation. I always said my prayers while I was in the military. I always had my faith.
What, or who, is your primary motivator?
My primary motivator would be my covenant with God, because I asked Him, ‘What can I do to make a difference?’ I’m a national gold medalist archer; my highest score is 299 over 300. I shoot from my wheelchair with my mouth — it gives new meaning to shooting your mouth off. I once lived in a nursing home. I was headed to a hospice and I was pulled out of there by the military and the VA and friends, and taken to a facility, where they said I had to do everything, I just had to do it.
I found something that I could do and it changed my life. I decided I didn’t have to live in a nursing home. I could live somewhere where people could come to help me. I did not have to go to a hospice. I still had hopes and dreams. Don’t give up on life–just remember there’s always somebody that can help. Think about
utilizing sports, even if you have never done it before. It doesn’t have to be archery. I scuba dive, I horseback ride, I golf, I play tennis, I sail, I kayak, I do fencing–there are so many things I never did even when I was able-bodied, and now there are people helping me do it. Once you see what you can do as an athlete, it opens your mind to say, ‘Hey, I do have the ability, but I have to do things differently.’I think I can help people out there. I feel that archery is the one thing that God has in line for me, but I know He wants me to get out there and share my story to encourage other people; especially veterans, and anybody that’s disabled, and women too.
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Are you currently aiming for the 2016 Olympic Games? No, not yet. I’m not there yet. Right now I’m in contention for it, which means that I’m still trying to get ranked in the world so that I can get appointed to the team to go.
Have you faced any difficulties as an African American woman in archery?
Of course–you can look at the team and see. Let me just say it this way: archery, when you get to the Olympic level, there are very few of us. A lot of people in the African American community don’t even know how to get in the Olympics. That’s one of the things that I want to do. I want to team up with the people that do an Olympics awareness expo to identify different types of Olympics, and of course archery is the main sell, so that people can get a taste.
I think there are a lot of people within the African American community that would do so well in a lot of the sports, but they don’t even know they exist. They may see it on TV, but they don’t know how they can access it. Also, with the African American community–African American women in particular–there are not many athletes. Archery was one of the first Olympic sports that women participated in. However, African American women, I haven’t seen many. I can’t say the reason why, but I know you have to be able to raise a large amount of resources. It’s not a cheap venture.
What do you consider your greatest obstacle at this point in time?
My greatest obstacle right now is putting together a team and resources that will enable me to travel around the world to compete. While I’m doing that, I’m also looking for opportunities for public speaking, and maybe doing a little consulting. When I’m an Olympian, and it’s over, I want to have something to move into. Some things are accidents but some things you can plan to do. It doesn’t have to be real big, but just plan and do it. I thank God that I’m still here and I still have room to try new things.
What would you like BlackEnterprise.com readers to know about you or your mission?
First, that I’m God’s child with a billion dollar smile. If I can help somebody, then I do. Since I’m a veteran now, my focus has been on veterans and the Wounded Lady Warriors
The mission continues when you can encourage people by what you do and they’ll tell people, ‘Hey, did you see? She’s in a wheelchair [and] she’s doing this and that and you’re at home just complaining, not doing anything.’ I think that the little positive role model I can be, if I can say a kind word, or share a smile, I would love to do that. I want people to know that I’m a child of God with a billion dollar smile that might end up with a billion dollars or more in net worth.
Take your own stab at archery at the 2016 Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge, September 1st-4th, PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Register now. Follow #BEGT for news and updates.