Quotes from official practice

Recurve Men
 Luis ALVAREZ (MEX)   On his 2012 season: It has already been a very good year, amazing actually. Since the beginning of the year I did not expect it, but it has been really good with the Olympics and the World Cups.   Thanks to the people who support me, I’m very grateful. This year has been a great experience as an archer and as a person.   On his future: I’m studying as an engineer. I want to become a bow designer, that’s my goal. My passion is shooting and studying, and my family of course.   On using a bow with a 56lbs (25.5kg) draw weight: I shoot a heavy bow, 56lbs, and I want to stay at this level. I can get a good tune from my 380’s (arrows name), if I go up any more I would have problems maybe. I think it’s a good weight for me and I'm going to stay at it.   On raising from 401 in the world to 13th since the beginning of the season: You always need to improve; you can’t stay at one level. You must keep climbing, that’s what is needed to do if one wants to stay in this beautiful game of archery.   Gael PREVOST (FRA)   On his 2012 season: Overall it has been a good season for me, although the Olympics did not go as well as I had hoped. I got my first World Cup stage medal in Ogden so that was good. Actually the World Cup season didn’t start on such good notes, as I lost in the 1/16th in Shanghai. Then in Antalya I lost in the 1/8th, so I worked out I needed a medal result in Ogden. I did it so it was perfect!   Recurve Women   LIN Chia-En (TPE)   On her 2012 season: It has been so, so exciting! It has been my best year ever.   Alejandra VALENCIA (MEX)   On being at the World Cup Final: I learned only on Tuesday that I would be competing in the World Cup Final. I packed my suitcase overnight and left for Japan the next day! I am very happy to compete here and excited that it is held in Tokyo. I already have the experience of last year's World Cup Final, and this qualification is a very good way to conclude our team's great season. I want to win matches, especially now that after Mexico's success at the Olympic Games, archery is much more under the public eye.   Compound Men   Reo WILDE (USA)   On individually winning every World Cup stage in 2012: I won’t complain (smile), I hope it keeps going the way it has been going.   On the massive weight of his bow: It weighs over 10 lbs (4.5kg). Its just holds still, keeps my dot on the centre. I don't feel that I need to do any special training; just shoot.   Braden GELLENTHIEN (USA)   On the World Cup Final: The World Cup final is perfect end to any season. For me, it has been a year of consistency but no big highs or lows for that matter, just consistency. I got only a 2nd place in Turkey and no other stage medals, so it has not been great, but it would feel bad to complain about it.   Paul TITSCHER (GER)   On his 2012 season: It has been great, good. We (the German team) were able to attend all the stages which is not always the case for us. The stages fitted in with our schedule so the federation sent me to all of them. I had a 4th place in Antalya but no individual medal so thats my goal here. It’s also an honour to be here at the Final. Its’ just great to be in Tokyo, it’s a cool place.   On what aspect of his shooting he has worked on this year: Everything and then everything again! Mainly my shooting form, just keep checking it. A friend is also helping to tune my equipment.   Pierre Julien DELOCHE (FRA)   On his 2012 season: Of course it has been a good year. I got my first individual medal in Ogden and after loosing the bronze in Shanghai to my teammate Dominique (GENET) , it felt really special.   On shooting against Dominique GENET in Shanghai: It was not relaxed at all. There is more pressure when we shoot together. We train together, we talk archery together and often have to share a room together so we prefer not to shoot against each other.   On his performances: Indoors I shot a 597 (18m) and outdoors 713 (50m) just one point behind Reo (WILDE). I think my mind has improved. I have just turned 30 years old and I think I'm more focused now. Last year I passed all my exams so now I can train harder for my archery.   Dominique GENET (FRA)   On his 2012 season: I am very happy with the season, it has been one of my best. Shanghai was my best event, with a bronze individually, silver in the team and a gold in the mixed team. My only regret this year is the European championships when I didn’t get any medal in individuals (lost in quarterfinals). However, winning the European team title was great!   On his equipment: I kept things the same all season, before I would change things month to month. If it fits and shoots well, keep it the same and results will come.   Peter ELZINGA (NED)   On his 2012 season: It started well with the indoor season and at the World Cups I shot very well, starting with a 7th place. In the end I needed to get on the podium to get to the Final, where I am now. I'm really excited, so yes 2012 has been a really good year for me.   On his shooting form and equipment: I really got it all together at the beginning of the year, it iss always good when it happens that way. Ive not really tried a lot of things, I normally tune a lot but this year I started off with a plan to not do that.   Compound Women  Laura LONGO (ITA)   On her 2012 season: I’m very happy with it, I have trained hard and it iss great to make the Final. I had problems with my draw length at the first stage but it was better in Ogden. I changed my release aid to a back tension and shot a 347 at 50m and a 145 match so I'm happy with the change.   On being at the final: Ive done all I can and I’ll just do my best. Im really happy to be here with the best in the world, it is a beautiful experience.   Christie COLIN (USA)   On her 2012 season: It has been great; I didn't expect to make the final for the 2nd year in a row. This was also my last chance for a while as I have two little boys. I’ll always shoot but I don't want to spend 5 weeks a year away from them. Ogden was the win I needed. It was a tied match and I shot the last arrow to clinch the match. It had to hit the yellow, no pressure (smile)!   On the World Cup being in Tokyo: Tokyo is so cool, really great. It’s good that it is somewhere neat and different and it’s summer here too!   On her equipment and shooting form: I switched bows at the beginning of this year so I had a lot of finetuning to do as I had no outdoor set up at all. I think the best thing about my shooting form is the way I shoot my back tension release. Really, that holds my shot sequence together. Back tension shooting keeps it consistent day to day, shot to shot. Archery is a game of patience, it’s all a learning curve.   Kristina BERGER (GER)   On her 2012 season: I only started 2 years ago so this season has not been too bad (smile). Every international event this year has been a highlight. I find them so much more relaxed than the national shoots. Everyone wants to win but are very sporting about it, there is no arguing over if it’s a 10 or a 9.   On how her pistol shooting career helps her with archery: I learnt to do every shot the same, that’s the key skill I think.   On being at the World Cup final: Of course being here is a surprise. I did not expect to do so well. I did not go to China, then Antalya I had 2nd place with a miss in the final. I punched it (that “miss” shot). Same again in Ogden: that’s why I was in the bronze final and not the gold. So I still have lots to work on. Tokyo is pretty different for me, I live in a small town in the Alps so I'm not used to the big city and the people here are not used to big (tall, 188cm) ladies either. I get some strange looks.   Yumiko HONDA (JPN)   On a home World Cup Final: It’s like a dream, it’s very hard to believe all these athletes I normally watch on the TV are here and shooting next to me. It will be great if this happens again within my life time!   On the fact that all her opponents are in the worlds top 10: Looking at it objectively, no doubt there is a gap in ability. However since it is the first big competition in Tokyo I want to do my best but also enjoy shooting in my home country. That’s my main goal.   On being the oldest athlete at the final: It is my birthday next week. I’ll be 53 but in compound I feel I can continue for many more years to come. We have very few young girls shooting compound so I want to set an example to them.   Jamie VAN NATTA (USA)   On her 2012 season: 2012 has been pretty good, a little better than last year so that’s always good. I feel good; the Texas Shoot Out last week went well, I shot good. I won and it’s the same format as we are shooting here so it was perfect preparation.   On changes she has made this year: It has been a steady year, no big changes. I just changed from using a release rope to using a D-Loop. Yes it has taken me a long time to join everyone else in using the D-Loop, but I'm not a big fan of change. I have been using this same bow for 3 years now.   Marcella TONIOLI (ITA)   On her 2012 season: My season has been good and I arrive here and I hope to take a medal, I will shoot the best I can. Shanghai has been my best performance this year as I won!   Michael Peart World Archery Communication