Archer Nathan Macqueen’s outstanding sporting achievements were recognised by West Lothian Council at a special event recently.
The Paralympics Gold medal winner was invited along to West Lothian Civic Centre in Livingston with his wife Tara by Provost Cathy Muldoon, to mark a monumental 2024 for him following his success at the summer games in Paris.
Nathan, 33, from Addiewell, won gold in the Compound Open mixed team archery competition alongside team mate Jodie Grinham in addition to achieving a seventh-place finish in the Men’s Individual Compound Para Archery.
The Paralympian champion was also named as a recipient of an MBE in King Charles’s New Year Honours list.
Prior to his Parlaympic Games Gold medal win, Nathan’s career highlights included becoming double European Paralympic Champion and being named World Number One in 2023.
The dad-of-one was involved in a motorbike crash when he was 18 years old, which left him paralysed from the waist down.
Nathan had played rugby competitively for Glasgow Warriors at U18 level at the time of the life-changing incident, At that point he could never have imagined winning a gold medal.
As part of his rehabilitation and through his own personal motivation, Nathan took up a number of different competitive sports and represented Scotland at Wheelchair Basketball, as well as playing for the Lothian Phoenix Wheelchair Basketball Club based in Armadale.
He also competed in power lifting until a shoulder injury curtailed that and he took up archery, something he loved after first trying it as a child. He fondly remembers making bows from bamboo when he was young.
“All I do is shoot arrows for a living really, so it’s quite cool that people are recognising me for it,” Nathan said.
“I actually bumped into Cathy, the Provost, while I was in the shops and she said she was going to invite me in. I had no idea who she was but she knew who I was.
“It’s funny because I like to fly under the radar but now people are recognising me. It’s good to get that recognition.
“I’ve always said that I just want to inspire, so if I can even inspire one person.”
Provost Cathy Muldoon said: “Nathan’s story is one of resilience, hard work and tremendous talent. It was my pleasure to welcome him and Tara to West Lothian Civic Centre and a privilege to speak to him about his awe-inspiring achievements. He is an exceptional role model to all young aspiring athletes but most importantly to those with a disability.
“He is undoubtedly an inspiration to everyone in Addiewell, West Lothian and beyond and I’m sure further success awaits him in the years ahead.”
Nathan trains Monday to Friday every week and is a member of Balbardie Archers. He is supported by the UK Institute of Sport and trains out of Lilleshall Hall National Sports Centre in Shropshire.
He is set to receive his MBE in March at a ceremony at Holyrood House.
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