1 August 2008 - Natalia VALEEVA (ITA): “Athletes work hard for four years to reach the Games!”

Natalia VALEEVA (ITA): “Athletes work hard for four years to reach the Games!” July 2008  The qualifications for the Olympic Games have been exciting. Italy first qualified a team during the World Championships in 2007. I am also fortunate to have won the Individual World Championship. In 2008, there were the internal selections. I guess I started out on the right foot with a victory at the World Cup Stage 1 in Santo Domingo. I am very glad that Elena Tonetta and Pia Carmen Lionetti are also coming to the Games—in Athens 2004, I was the only Italian woman that qualified—luckily in Beijing I won't be lonely.   To prepare for the Games, I practice and work on both mental and technical training. Between sessions, I spend quality time with my three kids and my husband. It isn't easy to find a balance but I try my best. During the last competitions, my results were fine, so I'm feeling quite relaxed.   After the intense training before the Olympics, I believe the most important skill to win the Beijing Olympics is to be focused during the competition. When you have to compete with strong opponents—and lately even the less famous ones can be a danger—you can’t afford any mistakes, otherwise you are out. The opponents’ level has increased a lot during the last few years, so I consider focus during matches to be of upmost importance.   The Olympic experience is unique, completely different from the atmosphere of the European Championships and the World Cup. There are people from all over the world, athletes competing in all disciplines, which you have only seen on TV.   Every Olympics is great and gigantic but each is different from the previous one. In Barcelona, for example, the Olympic village was gorgeous and during the matches I was very relaxed, without too much pressure. In Atlanta, everything was stunning and great—typical American organization! We had fun in the village but on the match field I felt a lot of pressure from my coaches both before and during the competition—I wasn't mentally relaxed. In Sydney, I remember the small rooms but I have good memories of the competition. If I would not have been ill for a month before the Games, I would have reached a higher place than seventh—I was short of energy.   I am now looking forward to great Games in Beijing. I have heard about the political issues and I feel sorry for all citizens' problems. However, these issues should not detract from sport: politics shouldn't expect the Olympic Games to address these questions. Athletes work hard for four years to reach the Games and they should not be involved in matters removed from sport. Read my biography... Natalia Valeeva (ITA)   Note: Natalia Valeeva’s archery experience has been quite unique. She has competed on three national teams: USSR (1989-1992), Moldavia (1992-1996) and Italy (since 1997). She won individual and team bronze medals with the Unified Team at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. She was the Individual World Champion in 1995 and 2007. She was a four-time Individual Indoor World Champion and she will compete in her fifth Olympics in Beijing!