Gold for Visually Impaired

Photo © Dean ALBERGA   For the first time ever in the World Archery Para Championships the Visually Impaired category shot a final on the finals field of play and in alternate shooting.   The afternoon ended with the gold medal match for the visually impaired. After defeating Janice WALSH (USA), Reuben van HOLLEBECKE (BEL) faced an amazing Massimiliano PIOMBO (ITA). Having broken all world records in the last two days, the Italian put in a staggering 103 score in the final, giving his rival no chance. 

We made a short interview with Massimiliano PIOMBO:
In this event you broke six world records in a row... How did you do that? I wasn't thinking that it could happen. I still don't believe it. It's almost impossible to say all I would like to say... for sure I want to thank my club close to Bologna that believed in me from the beginning. 

What were your expectations for these championships?
I did not believe it was possible for me to come to a world championship. I'm so happy I shot more than 1200 points in the qualification round. I made wrong calculations and I was thinking that I did not achieve this result. It was Pier (his coach) who realised I finally did it. 

And now you've won a gold medal here! 
When I heard the speaker call the arrows, I was thinking: what am I doing here? Then I started feeling the competition. At the end I was in control of my emotions and managed to achieve this result! What else? U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E!!!

What can you tell us about Teddy (the dog)? 
He kissed me a lot! Probably he deserves this success more than me. He has a lot of patience with me... I don't know how he does it.   Matteo PISANI
FITA Communication