21 June 2006 - Interview Flash

Interview Flash

San Salvador – 21 June 2006

Sabrina Hermes (GUA): Compound Women

How was your first day of qualifications ?

It was good at 60 meters, not so good at 70m.

What are your expectations for the rest of the competition ?

Simply to shoot as well as I can. I would like to beat my personal best of 1307 pts at a FITA round. The participation this year in San Salvador is impressive. Thanks to the World Cup, many top archers from the rest of the world came.

What is your international experience ?

Yes, I have been shooting internationally for about 6 years. I have been to the Junior Worlds in the U.K. and then at the Worlds in Madrid last year. I have also been to many tournaments in Central America, for instance in Mexico, Costa Rica. This is my 6th time in San Salvador.

How do you train in Guatemala ?

We have a national training center where I usually go. We have only two compound women in the team, but it is nice to be around the recurve and the men archers at the training center.

What is your long-term goal in archery ?

I just want to keep shooting and improve as much as possible. Hopefully I can compete and win against the archers from the Americas.

Peter Elzinga (NED) : Compound Men

How was the trip to El Salvador ?

The trip was very long, and the time difference is very big, of about 8 hours, and as it is said, you can only catch 1 hour a day. Anyways, it will not affect my shooting.

What do you think of El Salvador ?

It is very different from Europe, and it is also my first time here, however it is a pitty that I don’t have so much time to visit the country, but it is definitely very nice.

How do you think the competition will go ?

The top archers of the World Cup ranking are here so it is quite exiting, but that also means that it will be difficult to have a high score at the end. The weather is good, there is no wind, so I expect to have a very good score.

Are you afraid ?

I am not afraid, but a bit nervous as usual. Actually, a competition without nerves would not be normal.

What does it feel to shoot at 90m and a FITA Round ?

To shoot at 90m can always differ from one competition to another, most of the difference is made by the weather, because as soon as you have a little wind, it becomes harder and it makes all the difference. But as I said before, the wind here is absent so there will be no problem at all.

So far you are ranked 1st in the World Cup ranking, tied with Swiss Patrizio Hofer and French Dominique Genet. What does it feel ?

It is very exiting to be 1st, that’s true, but I’m convinced that this tournament will make the difference. If I want to be in Mexico I have to shoot well here and also in Shanghai.

So that means you are going to participate in Shanghai too ?

Not sure… It will depend on the results of San Salvador. If I have a chance to be in the top 4, I will most likely go. But top 12 archers of the World Cup ranking are here, so the competition will be tough and difficult.

Patrizio Hofer (SUI) : Compound Men

How was the trip to El Salvador ?

The trip was good.

What do you think of El Salvador ?

It is very beautiful. I had the chance to visit town 3 times so far, and I like it a lot, people are very friendly.

How do you think the competition will go ?

Can you ask me the question again tonight ?

Are you afraid ?

No.

What do you think of your opponents ?

There are lots of archers from the Americas that I don’t know so I cannot tell, but I can tell about the ones I know and they are very strong. The best of the world in my category are here and it will make the competition not easy. Anyways, a competition is never easy, and my biggest opponents are me, myself and I.

What does it feel to shoot at 90m and a FITA Round ?

It is nice, but longer in time, it is different.

So far you are ranked 1st in the World Cup ranking, tied with Netherlands Peter Elzinga and French Dominique Genet. What does it feel ?

It does not make me feel anything special, because nothing is decided yet. There are still 2 stages to go, including this one, and everything could change.

Are going to participate in Shanghai then ?

It will depend on the results of San Salvador. But I would like to thanks the Organising Committee for having helped me to find my lost luggage, without it I wouldn’t be able to shoot well.

What would you do with the prize money if you win in Mexico ?

I am not thinking about it yet, but I believe that I would use it to afford me more attendance to international events next year. I think that if I get a good final result I will also try to contact some companies to get sponsors and help me also in that area. Lastly, I would like to thank all the people that supported me to come and participate in El Salvador.

Ricardo Merlos (ESA) : Recurve Men

You are here in your own country, what does it feel ?

I am very nervous. Being in my own country gives me more hopes to win. I feel very comfortable here, as I am shooting in my field, where I usually train.

How do you think the competition will go ?

The competition will be very good. This archery competition has the highest level ever in El Salvador. There are also lots of countries participating with very high level athletes. However, I would have liked to see Korea here.

What does it feel to shoot at 90m and a FITA Round ?

Actually, here in Latin America we shoot more FITA Rounds than 70m Rounds, because we want to make good use from the travel and shoot longer, we don’t want to go to another country, spending lot of money for the travel and accommodation and then just shoot for one day, in case we don’t shoot the eliminations. And about shooting at 90m, I like it a lot more because it is of course further, and it is more technical. I find it more interesting because you don’t see the arrow so well, and therefore I try to guess with my eyes, my own sight. What is more difficult to me is to shoot at 50m. I usually don’t do the score that I should, its harder to me.

Chantal Steiner

FITA Communication