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Gold medalist responds
Posted: Monday October 04, 1999 11:31 AM
What did you think of the overall preparation for Sydney 2000 by the organizers, both in general terms and specifically for archery? Did you enjoy your time here?
The city was beautiful. I had a great time there. I just wish it was a little warmer.
The training you put in for the Atlanta Olympic is legendary (shooting arrows from the driveway, through the house and to a target in the backyard.) How have your training facilities changed since '96?
I now practice at a friend's house. I shoot across her horse arena, without the horses of course.
How do you feel about those who use archery for hunting?
There are several sports for archery and hunting is one of them. I love my Dad and he hunts with a bow.
What was the best part about the Olympic Athletes' Village back in 1996? Also, how long have you seriously been into archery?
It was amazing actually. There was so much to do. Besides competing in your own event you really didn't have to leave the village. They had concerts, bowling lanes, arcades, movie theaters, food and much more than I can list. I started shooting in 1989 when I was 14. 1990 was my first year of serious competition.
How has your "success" affected the lives of those you love, or are close to you?
Yeah, It keeps my mom extremely busy. It affects my family the most; they get to share the tie they have to the Olympics with people they know. Sometimes when I watch them talk about the games it's like they won the gold medal.
Are you feeling the pressure yet?
I felt the pressure of the trials process a great deal this year. I wanted to return to the games to defend my title so bad, that I was putting undue pressure on myself of "having to make the team." Now that I'm on the team, I'll worry about the pressure next year.
What influence have your parents had on your success as an archer and as a person?
The biggest influence they had on me before the Games was supporting me financially and physically anyway they could, but they never put the pressure on me to have to shoot or win -- that didn't matter to them. As long as I was enjoying myself, they were happy. Since the Games, I wouldn't know what I would do without them. They are both the backbone of what keeps me on track. My mom especially, she does so much for me it's amazing. My success as an archer was mostly done on my part, but my success as a person has definitely been because of my mom and dad.
What distance do you practice shooting the most?
70 meters (approximately 80 yards) is the distance we shoot in the Games. That is the distance you'll usually find me at.
Many Olympic sports at this time are experiencing a great deal of difficulty with athletic doping. Has this been true for archery as well? I understand there may be some drugs -- like beta-blockers -- that could allow the archer to shoot more accurately.
There may be doping problems in sports but not in ours. Olympic archery has never had a positive test in the history of the Games.
What do you do prior to an event to get yourself mentally ready?
Before the event I try to picture myself at the actual competition, like a mental motion picture. The night before I may go through a series of matches in my head. I really try not to think about it all on the day of competition. For the most part, trying to relax, before the competition, has been a key point for my shooting.
What is your fondest memory of the 1996 Olympic Games that you will take with you to Sydney?
My fondest memory of the games was after I won the individual medal. I just got done with drug testing, and doing press conferences and I remember walking to our friend's car and getting in. While I was sitting in the back seat I started thinking to myself, "Wow they don't take this thing from you and give it back at the end of the Olympics?" At that moment, the gold and memories were mine forever.
Do you think Geena Davis has brought attention to the sport of archery for all the wrong reasons, or do you all love the attention any way you can get it?
I personally love the attention we are getting from Geena and I think I can speak for most of the archery community. More people are getting exposed to the sport by seeing her shoot. She might inspire someone else out there, to try it out.
What is the pull on your bow? How many bows do you take with you on a competition?
The draw weight on my bow is 47#. I take two bows with me to compete, one primary bow and one backup bow (just in case something breaks on my main bow).
Do you ever switch hand positions when you shoot, or do you always shoot with the same hand pulling back the wire?
I always shoot right-handed. There are no "switch hitters" in our sport; at least, none that can perform well. I can shoot left-handed, but it isn't pretty.
How about having moving targets or shooting on the run (so to speak) as a change of pace for Olympic shooting. What do you see for future events? Have you gotten a chance to meet Ms. Davis?
There has always been a certain level of precision in our sport, to find the best. Head to head competition with sudden death elimination, which was introduced in Barcelona at the 1992 Olympics, was a big adjustment (and still is) for most archers. Moving targets would throw a completely different element into it, but I would never rule anything out. In the future, I would not be surprised to see the Compound bow introduced on to the Olympic scene. Yes, I have met Geena and she is a very nice person and if you shoot archery, hopefully you too, can meet her someday.
How was the experience of the Atlanta Olympics? Do you feel that Sydney will have the same experience? Do you feel that archery isn't getting enough attention?
I don't know how anything will ever compare to Atlanta. My first Games, winning gold, and being in America -- these will be hard to beat. The first time you do anything it's really memorable. Having the Games in your own country and everybody rooting for you -- that's the best feeling. I would love it if archery would get more attention. Unfortunately, here in the United States, there are a lot of sports that don't get enough attention. In other countries, the Olympic archery competition is actually televised.
What is it like for you to win two gold medals and surprise so many people in our country for a sport that is little known (at least to TV viewers)? Do people recognize you as a gold medalist?
If I could describe it in one word, that word would be AWESOME! It was also pretty intense to learn that I won my second gold medal on the same day that Michael Johnson, one of the greatest Olympic athletes ever, won his second gold medal. People do recognize me, but not as much as the high profile athletes.
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