For Chyler Sanders, archery started as a random thought.  She didn’t consider herself a “sports person”, but after reading an article about a local archer on a bulletin board in her school, she decided to try out the sport. Chyler was in Grade 6, and she began practicing at a local range in her hometown of Winnipeg.  

“I’m not really one to like sports… but [archery] really helped me come out of my shell.  I am a pretty shy person, but I really found comfort.”

After years of training, she competed in her first Manitoba Winter Games in 2018.  She was 14 years old, and it was her first big competition. 

“It was scary, but it was a lot of fun!” Chyler recalls about her first Manitoba Winter Games.  “It was great. Especially for an intro to big competitions… It helped me move on to larger competitions, like going to Nationals as well as Worlds.” 

At this time, Chyler was dividing time between swimming and archery.  She was still finding herself as an athlete. 

“At the Manitoba Winter Games in 2018, I was like… this is my sport.  The Manitoba Winter Games made me fall in love with archery.”  

Chyler won a gold medal at the Games against a strong opponent.  She was in shock and did not expect the victory.  After this experience, Chyler began more intense training, practicing three to four times per week for several hours. 

“I would shoot before work. I’d shoot after work… I became a lot more determined.”

Chyler has had great success in the sport and has been able to travel the world because of archery.  She competed in the Canada Games in 2023, earning a gold medal in individuals.  When she was named co-flagbearer at the closing ceremonies, she recalls feeling astonished. 

“It was surreal because I never thought that was available to me”.  

She has also competed internationally in Spain, Ireland, El Salvador, and Poland, earning bronze medals. 

Chyler has now transitioned to coaching archery.  Though she became certified to coach in 2019, Chyler didn’t really get into coaching until 2022.  When she took a job at Heights Outdoors, a hunting retail shop and archery range in Winnipeg, she began teaching some of the archery classes. 

 “I really enjoyed it!” Chyler remembers.  

She tries to mirror the enthusiasm and love of the sport, that she learned from her previous coaches, to help train the next generation of archers. 

Currently, Chyler is at the 2026 Manitoba Winter Games as an archery coach for Winnipeg East, coaching alongside her longtime teammate, Cleo Wermann-Thorn.  It’s come full circle for these athletes, who competed together in 2018. 

 “I am so lucky to have her by my side… She is so calm.”

In her final musings, Chyler reminisced on why she loves archery.

“What makes archery so special? The community… The people I’m surrounded with daily, when I’m competing or shooting.  It’s just amazing. Everyone supports each other, even here at the Manitoba Winter Games.”