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4 August 2011 - Interview with Gaël PREVOST, the youngest archer shooting at the World Cup stage 3 in Ogden
Lausanne
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Gaël PREVOST, the youngest archer in Ogden
Ogden (USA) – 4 August 2011
The 17-year-old archer Gaël PREVOST (FRA) is the youngest recurve competitor of the World Cup Stage 3 in Ogden (USA). He has already competed in four World Cup stages and won the silver medal in the World Championships team event in Turin earlier this summer with teammates GIROUILLE and VALLADONT.
Let’s meet up with the youngest member of the French recurve team who is also one of the youngest archers on the international circuit.
When did you start archery?
I discovered archery at the age of 6 (11 years ago) when I accompanied my Dad on a business trip. We were walking around and passed by an archery club. We went in, and I tried shooting a few arrows…I loved it immediately!
When did you take part in your first international competition?
It was in 2009, at the first Junior Cup in Legnica. I ranked 11th if I remember well.
Despite your young age, you seem to shoot well under pressure. Please tell us about your mental game.
We are working with specialists in our national training center (« INSEP », in Paris). I see them once a week. On a personal level, it’s quite simple: I avoid, as much as I can, feeling nervous, in terms of performances and ranking. I work a lot on my breathing and I would say it’s not going that bad. I feel nervous at some points when the competition starts but everything gets back in order quickly.
You will compete later this season in the Youth World Archery Championship in Leginca (POL). Do you think that shooting in the senior circuit allows you to sharpen your experience and your archery level?
Yes, when I meet stronger and more experienced archers than me! I remember my first World Cup event in Shanghai 2010 and I must admit that I wasn’t reaching my best level because I wanted to do better than I was supposed to… It was like I was pushing myself too hard. Since then, I learnt to feel less worried when things are going badly, to calm myself. I guess that simplicity is the key to everything!
What about your first World Archery Championship with the adults in Turin?
That was not too bad (laughs)! I felt a little bit nervous during the qualification round, I shot a 1316, which is not a good performance so far for me. I did better during the elimination round, I was shooting better technically and mentally. There was much less pressure during the team matches, my teammates Romain and Jean-Charles were really helpful to me. We are really close to each other.
Do you feel satisfied with your team’s silver medal?
That’s fantastic! First participation in such a competition and I win my first medal! I am originally shooting as a cadet, I am also shooting as a junior and I am also competing with the adults… This is such a great experience and I am very satisfied.
How did you guys survive the final versus the Korean team in Turin?
Before the match starts, we told ourselves that it would clearly be possible to win this gold medal, to beat this team in other words. On one hand, I guess we had too much confidence. We actually had a lack of confidence during the final, perhaps we should have played it another way. On the other hand, I am not saying that we were wrong.
Could you describe the atmosphere existing between you and your teammates Romain GIROUILLE and Jean-Charles VALLADONT?
We are really different from each other! Jean-Charles enjoys fishing and hunting, Romain loves all of this electronic stuff and I am more focused on being zen you know (laughs). These differences are actually creating a sort of symbiosis between us; in other terms, when we stand on the shooting line, our group is supporting itself. We really get along well! I am the youngest of the three and sometimes they tease me… I take it easy and this is honestly a good way to make our team stronger and stronger.
More information on Gaël PREVOST (and other archers) on World Archery website.
Text and photos Jean-Denis GITTON
World Archery Communication
Let’s meet up with the youngest member of the French recurve team who is also one of the youngest archers on the international circuit.
When did you start archery?I discovered archery at the age of 6 (11 years ago) when I accompanied my Dad on a business trip. We were walking around and passed by an archery club. We went in, and I tried shooting a few arrows…I loved it immediately!
When did you take part in your first international competition?
It was in 2009, at the first Junior Cup in Legnica. I ranked 11th if I remember well.
Despite your young age, you seem to shoot well under pressure. Please tell us about your mental game.
We are working with specialists in our national training center (« INSEP », in Paris). I see them once a week. On a personal level, it’s quite simple: I avoid, as much as I can, feeling nervous, in terms of performances and ranking. I work a lot on my breathing and I would say it’s not going that bad. I feel nervous at some points when the competition starts but everything gets back in order quickly.
You will compete later this season in the Youth World Archery Championship in Leginca (POL). Do you think that shooting in the senior circuit allows you to sharpen your experience and your archery level?
Yes, when I meet stronger and more experienced archers than me! I remember my first World Cup event in Shanghai 2010 and I must admit that I wasn’t reaching my best level because I wanted to do better than I was supposed to… It was like I was pushing myself too hard. Since then, I learnt to feel less worried when things are going badly, to calm myself. I guess that simplicity is the key to everything!
What about your first World Archery Championship with the adults in Turin? That was not too bad (laughs)! I felt a little bit nervous during the qualification round, I shot a 1316, which is not a good performance so far for me. I did better during the elimination round, I was shooting better technically and mentally. There was much less pressure during the team matches, my teammates Romain and Jean-Charles were really helpful to me. We are really close to each other.
Do you feel satisfied with your team’s silver medal?
That’s fantastic! First participation in such a competition and I win my first medal! I am originally shooting as a cadet, I am also shooting as a junior and I am also competing with the adults… This is such a great experience and I am very satisfied.
How did you guys survive the final versus the Korean team in Turin?
Before the match starts, we told ourselves that it would clearly be possible to win this gold medal, to beat this team in other words. On one hand, I guess we had too much confidence. We actually had a lack of confidence during the final, perhaps we should have played it another way. On the other hand, I am not saying that we were wrong.
Could you describe the atmosphere existing between you and your teammates Romain GIROUILLE and Jean-Charles VALLADONT?
We are really different from each other! Jean-Charles enjoys fishing and hunting, Romain loves all of this electronic stuff and I am more focused on being zen you know (laughs). These differences are actually creating a sort of symbiosis between us; in other terms, when we stand on the shooting line, our group is supporting itself. We really get along well! I am the youngest of the three and sometimes they tease me… I take it easy and this is honestly a good way to make our team stronger and stronger.
More information on Gaël PREVOST (and other archers) on World Archery website.
Text and photos Jean-Denis GITTON
World Archery Communication
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