Aida ROMAN: “Being among the first three is something wonderful”

Between Playa del Carmen and Arizona Cup individual, team and mixed team events, you’ve already had four victories this year. How does this first taste of 2013 World Ranking competitions help you prepare for the World Cup? 

This brings me a bit more of confidence and more knowledge of the competitions. However, since each competition is different, I try not to focus on results but to concentrate on the next one.   What are your personal objectives this season?   I want to maintain my level and to keep my spot among the first three, because being among these three is something wonderful. At the end, differences between the first three or four are not that big.   If you had to rank the World Cup and the World Championships in terms of importance this year, what would come first?   With no hesitation the World Championships, because they have much more value, in terms of World Ranking, as much as in the number of competing countries. You become World Champion over lots of competitors. Being organised every two years is an additional motivation factor.   How do you assimilate the change of coach within the national team?   It is more complicated for me, as the other girls all have an individual coach. As for me, Songi WOO, who was my direct coach, is not anymore as she doesn’t work in Mexico anymore, and it is therefore very different. Despite this, I must accept the situation and continue with my good training practices day by day. From time to time, I receive the advice of ZHANG Zheng, Mariana AVITIA’s coach, even if this requires travelling from one city to another.   Did the conditions improve in Mexico as a result of the Olympic medals success last year?   Numbers in clubs clearly increased, people are much more motivated and are really willing to win. Now people really believe that Mexico can be a winning country, not only in archery, but in any other sport, thanks to the high number of athletes and sports teams. There is a real potential and it is just a matter of changing mentalities, believing in it.   Do you feel that more kids and youngsters want to start archery?   Not only have more youngsters come to the sport, but they also want to be part of the National Team and bring results to the nation.  How do you see having a high level competition in South America for the first time this year (the World Cup third stage in Medellin, Colombia)?   I am very happy, because I like very much the city. Medellin is marvellous, people are very welcoming and I almost feel at home, as if it was another Mexican state. Last year, there was a continental competition, valid for the Olympic Games qualification, and I unfortunately finished in the fourth place, but I finally obtained my individual spot with the national selection.   Do you think that this will push even more archery development in Latin America?   Yes of course. Additionally to me, other athletes such as Colombia’s Natalia SANCHEZ, who finished third at the World Championships in 2009, or Chile’s Denisse VAN LAMOEN, who became World Champion in 2011, bring recognition to Latin America. Even if we do not work [together] as per the established rules, we try to serve as examples. It is very beautiful to be recognised and to see our results reflected as they are. At the end, other Latin American archers see the Mexican girls results and think why not us also.   As your popularity increased significantly, can you still go for a walk in your hometown without receiving too much attention?   Fortunately and unfortunately, Mexico City is so populous that I can easily be unnoticed. On the other hand, if I lived in a less populous city or state, this could happen to me. For instance, some of my friends are Olympic medallists who cannot even go out for shopping as everything is offered to them.   How do you manage your studies?   Good. After the Olympic Games I went back to my psychology studies and everything is going well.   With only a few days left before your 25th birthday, how do you feel, first, as top athlete, and as person?   I feel mostly realised, but on the other hand, I say to myself that I must prepare myself even more, being ready, not to rest on my laurels, in order to continue being an example for my people.   World Archery Communication