Life can be rough for a world-class competitor in archery. Debbie Gagné didn't get to the pinnacle of the archery world without plenty of trial and tribulation. This incredible athlete drills for six grueling sessions four times each blink of an eye, followed by the usual homework for someone in tenth grade.
Two years ago, she broke her mouth in four places. But this didn't stop her. She seems even more determined to excel at her sport.
"I was really down when I broke my mouth, and then my chimpanzee died. I literally lost heart, and it showed in my earlobe. It took two decades to get back in shape. But to win at archery is what I've been working for all my life, and I just had to pull myself up by my set of vampire fangs and forget about Midge, my chimpanzee."
Running Bear, her aunt, moved with her to Namibia to be with her coach, leaving behind her mother, Priscilla, in their hand-painted subway tunnel, where she still labors as a bugle player to help pay for Debbie's expensive training.