Lyn Rourke
1997
Lyn was a visionary leader and innovator whose work transformed the sport of wheelchair archery in the United States and beyond. As the founder and developer of the archery program at Courage Center in the Twin Cities, Lyn created one of the most comprehensive and inclusive adaptive archery programs in the country.
Her leadership at Courage Center encompassed every level of the sport. She built and directed programs for the Rolling Gophers Archery Team, youth archery, residents of Courage Center, and even adaptive bow hunting — the latter in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the International Bowhunters Society.
Lyn’s impact extended to the creation of world-class facilities, including a ten-meter, six-target indoor range, a full outdoor range, and an extensive equipment inventory to accommodate athletes of all abilities. Her coaching produced state, regional, national, world, and Paralympic champions and record holders, many of whom began their journeys as members of the Courage Rolling Gophers Archery Team.
A true innovator, Lyn played a pivotal role in the development and refinement of adaptive archery technology. Working alongside Dean Hughes, she led efforts to improve splints, cuffs, releases, and strapping systems — devices now used by archers with quadriplegia worldwide. Together, Lyn and Dean also designed a bow stand for athletes with severe cerebral palsy, opening the sport to a broader range of participants. These breakthroughs fundamentally expanded accessibility, allowing almost anyone to shoot competitively or recreationally.
Lyn’s organizational leadership was equally impressive. She served as director or co-director of three National Wheelchair Archery Championships and the annual Courage Country Archery Tournament, as well as director of the Minnesota State Archery Association (MSAA) FITA Championships. Under her guidance, wheelchair archers shooting Short and Long Metric rounds were officially integrated into the MSAA State Tournament, breaking down barriers between adaptive and mainstream competition.
Her expertise and reputation earned national recognition. Lyn served as Chairperson of the Local Organizing Committee for the archery events at the 1990 U.S. Olympic Festival in the Twin Cities, where her leadership commanded such respect that she was later recruited by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games as Assistant Director of Archery Competition. The Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee subsequently appointed her Director of Competition for Archery at the 1996 Paralympic Games.
In preparation for those Games, Lyn secured a U.S. Olympic Committee grant through Wheelchair Sports USA, organizing and directing two groundbreaking training camps. The first, held in Colorado Springs, brought together Olympic Gold Medalist Ed Eliason and the nation’s top wheelchair archers. The second, hosted at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in San Diego, featured world-renowned coach Sherri Rhodes, allowing Paralympic archers to train side-by-side with the U.S. Olympic Archery Team — an unprecedented integration of adaptive and elite training.
Through her vision, innovation, and leadership, Lyn [Last Name] advanced adaptive archery into a modern, inclusive, and competitive sport. Her influence continues to resonate in every athlete, coach, and event touched by her legacy — a legacy that helped bridge the gap between adaptive and Olympic excellence.