Vladimir Kopecky of Kimberley has seen it all, and won it all, in archery over his long career. He's been world champion, American champion, a Canadian champion multiple times.

But he has never met anyone who has impressed him and inspired him more than Kevin Evans of Jaffray. Evans lost his arm in an accident in 2003 and since then has won the world championship in archery twice. He won Paralympic gold in Beijing. And he has just competed at the ParaPanAmerican Games in Guadalajara, winning gold. He also regularly places top ten competing against able-bodied archers.

Kopecky has been coaching Evans since 2005.

"He was in archery a bit before his injury, but after his injury he got more serious about it," Kopecky said. "He told his brother, you figure out how to get me back to archery. He recognized that if he could find something to take his mind off his accident, it would benefit his rehabilitation."

Kopecky says they met in Golden in 2005, where he was competing in a tournament.

"He came with his wife," Kopecky said. "I was at the top of my game then and he said to his wife, if that old man can do it, I can do it too."

Kopecky is a mechanical engineer and he and Evans talked about a system where he could release the bow one-handed.

"He made everything himself," Kopecky said. "Even with one hand he can operate a milling machine and a lathe."

From 2005 Evans took the archery world by storm, winning the world championship in Korea, home of the best archers in the world, Kopecky says. He won it again in 2009.

Evans went into the ParaPanAmerican Games hardly in peak physical condition.

Kopecky says an accident last year where he shattered his heel has created back problems and tendonitis. On top of that the entire Canadian team, which consists of Evans and Bob Hudson from Saskatchewan, had a terrible case of the flu just prior to, and during the first couple of days, of competition.

"He was competing not at all fit," Kopecky said. "The whole team was sick at the games. The day before I didn't think either of them could compete."

But somehow they both managed to get through to the finals, where they competed against each other for gold and silver, knocking off all other competitors along the way. Evans won gold and Hudson silver.

Evans also qualified for the London Paralympics with that win. Hudson had already qualified with a win in September of this year. Kopecky hopes to accompany them to those Games.

"I would like to," he said. "Though at my age I don't even buy green bananas."

Kopecky has nothing but respect and admiration for his student.

"He is in the top ten even against able bodied archers. He's unbelievable. I was pretty good myself but I can't beat him. I tell him the only way I can beat him is in the swimming pool. I will swim straight while you swim in circles."

All kidding aside, Kopecky says Evans is loved and respected everywhere he goes.

"He is such a great ambassador for Canada. He's always smiling always helpful. He's spectacular. I phoned his wife one day and she said he was busy. I asked where is he? She says he's out under his pick up truck changing the drive shaft. I'm a mechanic and I know how hard that is with two hands.

"Someone should write a book about him. He's an inspiration to everyone." "Someone should write a book about him. He's an inspiration to everyone."