When dissecting an athlete’s legacy, people will often go to one’s resumé to assess where their achievements on the shooting line warrant eternal jubilation. Ana María Tenorio has that – and more. Her career in archery created ripple effects that have shaped para archery in her home country of Mexico from the 1970s right up until today. It’s because of this that the 70-year-old was officially recognised by World Archery Americas on International Women’s Day in March for her legacy in para archery, named as one of the continent’s prime ‘examples of perseverance’. “For me, it was very gratifying to receive this recognition after so many years,” said Tenorio, whose last competition was just four years ago at the Monterrey 2021 Para Pan American Championships in the compound women’s open division. “It’s an honour, and it fuels my desire to continue serving my nation. I never imagined this sport would bring me so many rewards.” Archery wasn’t even a vague imagination in Tenorio’s mind at one point.  Her true sporting passion growing up was in basketball, and she also tried several other sports such as athletics and swimming – with one of her early goals being to promote Paralympic sport.

But it was an old basketball coach who changed Tenorio’s mind – and her life – leading to a career as a para athlete, something she had dreamed of having.  “My basketball coach insisted a lot that I try archery because it was being promoted and they needed competitors.”  “He told me that if I didn’t take up archery, I wouldn’t be allowed to participate in either basketball or swimming.” That recommendation led Tenorio to appearances at the Toronto 1976 and Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games, as well as the old Pan American Wheelchair Games in 1975 and 1978 – winning silver in the former, when she shot in the recurve women’s open category. Although she didn’t land on the podium at neither Paralympics, reaching Toronto and Arnhem were groundbreaking achievements. She became the first para woman archer to represent Mexico at a Paralympic Games, paving the way for future generations in her country. Arnhem was Ana María’s last Games – where Alfredo Chavez also won the nation’s sole Paralympic archery medal – as she soon focused on raising her family. But if you think her fingerprints over Mexican para archery stopped there, you’d be wrong. The two-time Paralympian’s influence over her daughters, Ana Ivette Loza Tenorio and Sandra Fabiola Loza Tenorio, is clear for all to see.

Ana Ivette, now 42, competed internationally in the early 2000s and won gold at the 2000 Pan American Championships in the recurve women’s individual event. The younger Sandra, 41, also competed – but her talents came to fruition behind the shooting line. She has been coach and team manager for Mexico since 2018. Her most notable student is Samuel Molina, the greatest Mexican para archer of all time. Under Sandra’s tutelage, he has won recurve men’s open titles at two Para Pan American Championships (2021, 2024) and the Para Pan American Games in Santiago 2023.  “My daughters have brought me great satisfaction as archers and coaches,” said Tenorio, who claimed silver at the age of 62 in the recurve open mixed team event at the 2018 Para Pan American Championships alongside Molina. “Together, the three of us make a team with different ways of transmitting knowledge to new generations. However, we agree that instilling values such as resilience, respect, brotherhood, inclusion and mutual support is essential to shaping archers – and valuable citizens.” Ana Ivette and Sandra have received the torch from their mother and done their due diligence to keep the fire in Mexican para archery alive since Tenorio’s appearance at Toronto 1976. However, Tenorio remains firmly active in the scene, promoting sport for older people like herself and advocating for improved shooting facilities for archers with impairment – which she says is still a “challenging issue”.

It’s Tenorio’s campaigning, historical achievements and astounding influence over Mexican para archery that warrant the praise she is now receiving – recognition that’s long overdue. But these flowers were never something she sought when she left the basketball court for the archery field. “I believe that being called a pioneer or legend comes with a responsibility that never ends; it’s a commitment to my community and my country,” she said. “I didn’t consciously seek those titles – I simply did my best, hoping it would benefit others living with disabilities.” “However, athletic achievements are enjoyed in the moment you earn them, and the reward for hard work is deeply satisfying.” Paralympic viewing records were blown away in Paris last year. And although Mexico may not have climbed the podium in France, Tenorio has most definitely done her bit nationally – for the best part of half a century… and is still going. If Mexico end their 45-year wait for a Paralympic archery medal at LA28, one way or another, the Tenorio legacy will be written all over it.