The Dunedin man suffered a stroke in 2017 after a skiing accident at Coronet Peak.
As a result, he developed aphasia, a language disorder caused by damage in the area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension.
He is also paralysed on his right side and has use of only one arm.
"My stroke has not changed who I am. I understand what you are saying but have difficulty speaking," he said.
Mr Wallace uses a stand to help load the bow and his back teeth to draw the bowstring.
From there, he aims and releases the arrow at the target.
His first competition would be in two weeks.
Coach Garry Porter said training had been a learning curve for both of them, and Mr Wallace might be the only archer in New Zealand currently using a mouth tab to shoot.
"One of Paul’s caregivers called me and said he had an interest in archery, but that Paul was in a wheelchair.
"I said well, that’s not a problem — but then he said ‘Paul can only use one arm’ — I thought that may be a problem, but once I did some research and got some gear that would work, Paul was away."
Mr Wallace started shooting at 15m before moving up to 30m.
He hopes to get to 70m, the distance contested at the Paralympics.
"Paul is doing extremely well and it helps he has an extremely supportive family behind him."
Mr Wallace had a fall skiing that caused a blood clot to go up to his brain, causing a stroke later that night.
After going to Queenstown, Dunedin and Christchurch hospitals, he was taken back to Dunedin and transferred to the Puāwai Rehabilitation Unit, formerly the ISIS Centre, at Wakari Hospital.
"I stayed there for a long two and a-half months until I could finally come home."
Mr Wallace’s daughter, Greta Wallace, said her father was enthusiastic about archery.
"He’s really passionate about this and it’s good to see him be able to do something."
