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Kristina BERGER: “As long as I don’t shoot every arrow in the X, there’s still something to do”
Cali
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German star Kristina BERGER shot a fantastic new compound bow world record on 23 June with a score of 1418 points, six points higher than the previous record. Before learning to shoot the compound bow in 2009, BERGER was already a German triple individual champion in pistol shooting in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The current European archery champion, BERGER is one of the major favourites for this season where she will try to get the gold medal at her first World Games in Cali and World Championships in Belek Antalya.
What can you tell us about your last major competition, the second stage of the World Cup in Antalya, where you won bronze?I think the competitions are getting harder and harder, and the field is more and more filled with high powered competitors, and it’s difficult. Maybe I’m thinking too much about the other shooters now, because I know them all and I know that they can shoot very well too. It was very good to win the bronze, it’s a very good feeling to know that I’m still able to hold the same level as the others.
What about the recent progress by Korea and Colombia?Of course, it’s a little bit scary. But they are all humans. They are training hard, so if you want to keep up with them, you have to train hard.
How did you prepare for the World Games that start tomorrow?I did shoot as much as possible, with my coach Roman HEIGENHAUSER and the German head coach Robert HESSE. We tried some new mental techniques. We will see what will comes out of it, since it’s the first try. My training schedule depends on my job. I have a lot to do and sometimes don’t shoot for one or two weeks; however before big competitions like this, I try to work hard for one or two weeks before the start, and shoot the number of arrows of a tournament everyday.
As an athlete who cannot take part in the Olympic Games, what do the World Games represent for you?
I think there is no difference between the Olympic Games, the World Games, the World Championships… They always feature the best shooters in the world. These tournaments just have different names. Winning one or the other is the same, in order to do it you need to beat the best.
What does the new world record mean to you?It’s difficult to say (laughs). A world record is great, you have to have a good day to shoot something like that, but it’s still not the end. In the FITA round you can shoot 1440 points, so there’s still a little bit of space to go up. It was my second world record. I shot the 70 metre world record two years ago at the same tournament, in what was the beginning of my archery career.
Does the record change something in your approach?No, no. It changes nothing, because as long as I don’t shoot every arrow in the X, there’s still something to do.
You established yourself as one of the top compound athletes in the world in less than two years. How did archery change your life? It changed my life a lot. Before archery, I had a normal job, and now I’m flying around every few weeks. It’s quite impressive and it’s a big change, but I enjoy it very much. Now I run an archery shop together with my husband. I’m a little bit sad for him because I’m away so often and even though he shoots well, he cannot compete at the world level yet.
What is your proudest achievement so far?I don’t think that there’s a special one. Every big competition and every medal means that you’ve beaten some of the best archers in the world. It’s always something to be proud of.
How does your career as a former pistol shooter help you for archery?It helped a lot. I started shooting pistol at 11 years old. Pistol is a lot about aiming and pulling the trigger. It’s mental. That’s the same that I do in archery: I aim and pull the trigger.
So you’ve shot pistol, bow… what is next?Maybe big rifles or something like that! I tried it and it’s big fun. I don’t know why, but shooting is my sport, no matter if it’s with a pistol, a bow… At the moment I shoot rifles just for fun. Honestly, I hope that my archery career will last a long time, I don’t want to change again, but we will see!
Do you have other passions besides archery?We got a horse and a donkey at our archery shop, I think that’s my little passion right now: I take care of them every evening and feed them carrots (laughs).
Find Kristina BERGER’s biography in our webpage, as well as the 2012 European Championships Final on Archery TV.
World Archery Communication
What can you tell us about your last major competition, the second stage of the World Cup in Antalya, where you won bronze?I think the competitions are getting harder and harder, and the field is more and more filled with high powered competitors, and it’s difficult. Maybe I’m thinking too much about the other shooters now, because I know them all and I know that they can shoot very well too. It was very good to win the bronze, it’s a very good feeling to know that I’m still able to hold the same level as the others.
What about the recent progress by Korea and Colombia?Of course, it’s a little bit scary. But they are all humans. They are training hard, so if you want to keep up with them, you have to train hard.
How did you prepare for the World Games that start tomorrow?I did shoot as much as possible, with my coach Roman HEIGENHAUSER and the German head coach Robert HESSE. We tried some new mental techniques. We will see what will comes out of it, since it’s the first try. My training schedule depends on my job. I have a lot to do and sometimes don’t shoot for one or two weeks; however before big competitions like this, I try to work hard for one or two weeks before the start, and shoot the number of arrows of a tournament everyday.
As an athlete who cannot take part in the Olympic Games, what do the World Games represent for you?
I think there is no difference between the Olympic Games, the World Games, the World Championships… They always feature the best shooters in the world. These tournaments just have different names. Winning one or the other is the same, in order to do it you need to beat the best.What does the new world record mean to you?It’s difficult to say (laughs). A world record is great, you have to have a good day to shoot something like that, but it’s still not the end. In the FITA round you can shoot 1440 points, so there’s still a little bit of space to go up. It was my second world record. I shot the 70 metre world record two years ago at the same tournament, in what was the beginning of my archery career.
Does the record change something in your approach?No, no. It changes nothing, because as long as I don’t shoot every arrow in the X, there’s still something to do.
You established yourself as one of the top compound athletes in the world in less than two years. How did archery change your life? It changed my life a lot. Before archery, I had a normal job, and now I’m flying around every few weeks. It’s quite impressive and it’s a big change, but I enjoy it very much. Now I run an archery shop together with my husband. I’m a little bit sad for him because I’m away so often and even though he shoots well, he cannot compete at the world level yet.
What is your proudest achievement so far?I don’t think that there’s a special one. Every big competition and every medal means that you’ve beaten some of the best archers in the world. It’s always something to be proud of.
How does your career as a former pistol shooter help you for archery?It helped a lot. I started shooting pistol at 11 years old. Pistol is a lot about aiming and pulling the trigger. It’s mental. That’s the same that I do in archery: I aim and pull the trigger.
So you’ve shot pistol, bow… what is next?Maybe big rifles or something like that! I tried it and it’s big fun. I don’t know why, but shooting is my sport, no matter if it’s with a pistol, a bow… At the moment I shoot rifles just for fun. Honestly, I hope that my archery career will last a long time, I don’t want to change again, but we will see!
Do you have other passions besides archery?We got a horse and a donkey at our archery shop, I think that’s my little passion right now: I take care of them every evening and feed them carrots (laughs).
Find Kristina BERGER’s biography in our webpage, as well as the 2012 European Championships Final on Archery TV.
World Archery Communication
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