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WILLS (GBR) AND GIROUILLE (FRA) interviewed
Beijing – 9 August 2008
Alan WILLS (GBR) - Men Individual and Team
How did you get started in archery?
I started shooting bow and arrows, when I was thirteen years old. I like shooting sports altogether. When I was younger, I also shot a rifle, but now I don't have enough time to do that anymore. The first club I joined was the local Sallyfield Archery Club in Cumbria, northwest of England. I'm 26 years old now and still live there today. I only took two long breaks from archery: the first one at the age of 14 when an appendix surgery kept me away for six month. The second one was at age 18 or 19, when I stopped all shooting sports for a while. I also play golf, if I have the chance. Golf has a lot in common with archery, since both sports are a mental challenge. From time to time I do some jogging or hiking. Cumbria is a mountainous region, which is ideal for hiking.
Which of your wins have a special significance for you? The silver medal at the World Championships in Germany in 2007; Winning the World Championship with the team in 2004 and the bronze medal at the World Championships in Leipzig in 2007. What are your dreams?
I want to become the best archer in the world. I like it, when people look me up and ask me for autographs. I would enjoy if a book would be written about me. What's your occupation? I'm a carpenter and up to 2007 I was working in my job. But at the moment I'm a full time archer. I plan to be back at my job after the Olympic Games.
How do you practice and what advice can you give to other archers?
I practice six days a week and shoot 3,000 to 5,000 arrows per month. If you want to become a good archer, hard work and good back tension will help a lot. And most of all, you should have a goal. My advice to other archers: work hard and one day you will succeed. And most of all, never lose the fun in shooting.
Do you coach other shooters?
No, it's difficult to coach other shooters and practice at the same time, because you start thinking too much about other people's shooting. But in the future I'd like to work as a coach and pass down my experiences.
Are you on a special diet on and before a tournament?
No, but I try to eat as healthy as possible. I eat a lot of carbohydrates on the day before a tournament.
Tell us about your bow and arrows. I shoot a Hoyt bow with 50 pounds of draw weight and Easton arrows.
How can you improve concentration during a tournament? Listen to music or talk to a friend. Try to stay happy. Don't get stressed out.
Who taught you to shoot bow and arrow?
My personal coach is Alf DERWIS and he's taken care of me since I started in archery. He's always believed in me and stood at my side. I always stayed in contact with him. I also have a Korean coach now, Peter SUKE. He also believes in me.
What environment do you like to shoot in?
At tournaments I like a friendly, stress free atmosphere.
What weather do you like best for shooting? I like the sun with no wind blowing.
Do you do a warm-up routine before you shoot?
Yes, I do some stretching with a rubber band for my warm-up routine. I go light and I don't overdo it.
Do you have a special breathing technique?
I breathe in, when I pull back and breathe out, when I release. If my heart starts beating too fast, I try to breathe with my diaphragm, until my heart slows down. Romain GIROUILLE (FRA) - Men Individual
How did you get started in archery? When I was 10 years old, archery was offered as physical education in our school. I don't know if the school does it regularly, but it got me hooked.
What do you like about archery?
I like the repeating sequences of motion. I personally like it more to shoot outdoors than indoors.
How do you practice?
I shoot six days a week and take either Saturday or Sunday off. I also do additional weight training and jogging. I practice twice a day and shoot about 300 arrows a day. This year I only practice at 70 metres, since that is the only distance at the Olympics. To get ready for a tournament, I mostly practice only the distances that will be shot at that tournament.
I live in Paris and study at the National Sports Institute, where I can study and practice at the same time. I study computer sciences. In the mornings I study and in the afternoon I practice with my bow and arrows. All the Olympic Sports can be practiced at the National Sports Institute, so I study and practice together with many other athletes. At the age of 16 I moved to Paris to study and improve in archery.
What was your biggest success so far?
I won first place at the World Cup in Porec this year, so my archery season started out good this year.
Tell us about your bow and arrows.
I shoot a Win & Win bow with a draw weight of 48 pounds and Easton arrows.
What do you like to do in your leisure time?
I like to go out and also like to go to the movies.
What are your dreams?
I'd like to place really well at the Olympic Games.
What are your plans for the time when you quit shooting?
I'd like to work in the IT field. I have no desire to work as a coach. I don't want to do what I always did before, even though the perception will be a different one as a coach.
What weather do you like best for shooting? I like sunny weather the best.
Did you do any special preparations for the Olympics?
My preparation for the Olympics is stretched out over the whole year, so nothing special.
Are you on a diet before the tournament?
No, I eat pretty much everything.
What are you doing to keep a steady focus during competition?
That's not a problem for me. I may listen to music during my breaks, but only for some entertainment.
What advice would give to other shooters?
Don't try to rush things, because if you do, you'll get burned out easily. Go slow and try to improve one step after another. Andre GEGG FITA Communication
How did you get started in archery?
I started shooting bow and arrows, when I was thirteen years old. I like shooting sports altogether. When I was younger, I also shot a rifle, but now I don't have enough time to do that anymore. The first club I joined was the local Sallyfield Archery Club in Cumbria, northwest of England. I'm 26 years old now and still live there today. I only took two long breaks from archery: the first one at the age of 14 when an appendix surgery kept me away for six month. The second one was at age 18 or 19, when I stopped all shooting sports for a while. I also play golf, if I have the chance. Golf has a lot in common with archery, since both sports are a mental challenge. From time to time I do some jogging or hiking. Cumbria is a mountainous region, which is ideal for hiking.
Which of your wins have a special significance for you? The silver medal at the World Championships in Germany in 2007; Winning the World Championship with the team in 2004 and the bronze medal at the World Championships in Leipzig in 2007. What are your dreams?
I want to become the best archer in the world. I like it, when people look me up and ask me for autographs. I would enjoy if a book would be written about me. What's your occupation? I'm a carpenter and up to 2007 I was working in my job. But at the moment I'm a full time archer. I plan to be back at my job after the Olympic Games.
How do you practice and what advice can you give to other archers?
I practice six days a week and shoot 3,000 to 5,000 arrows per month. If you want to become a good archer, hard work and good back tension will help a lot. And most of all, you should have a goal. My advice to other archers: work hard and one day you will succeed. And most of all, never lose the fun in shooting.
Do you coach other shooters?
No, it's difficult to coach other shooters and practice at the same time, because you start thinking too much about other people's shooting. But in the future I'd like to work as a coach and pass down my experiences.
Are you on a special diet on and before a tournament?
No, but I try to eat as healthy as possible. I eat a lot of carbohydrates on the day before a tournament.
Tell us about your bow and arrows. I shoot a Hoyt bow with 50 pounds of draw weight and Easton arrows.
How can you improve concentration during a tournament? Listen to music or talk to a friend. Try to stay happy. Don't get stressed out.
Who taught you to shoot bow and arrow?
My personal coach is Alf DERWIS and he's taken care of me since I started in archery. He's always believed in me and stood at my side. I always stayed in contact with him. I also have a Korean coach now, Peter SUKE. He also believes in me.
What environment do you like to shoot in?
At tournaments I like a friendly, stress free atmosphere.
What weather do you like best for shooting? I like the sun with no wind blowing.
Do you do a warm-up routine before you shoot?
Yes, I do some stretching with a rubber band for my warm-up routine. I go light and I don't overdo it.
Do you have a special breathing technique?
I breathe in, when I pull back and breathe out, when I release. If my heart starts beating too fast, I try to breathe with my diaphragm, until my heart slows down. Romain GIROUILLE (FRA) - Men Individual
How did you get started in archery? When I was 10 years old, archery was offered as physical education in our school. I don't know if the school does it regularly, but it got me hooked.
What do you like about archery?
I like the repeating sequences of motion. I personally like it more to shoot outdoors than indoors.
How do you practice?
I shoot six days a week and take either Saturday or Sunday off. I also do additional weight training and jogging. I practice twice a day and shoot about 300 arrows a day. This year I only practice at 70 metres, since that is the only distance at the Olympics. To get ready for a tournament, I mostly practice only the distances that will be shot at that tournament.
I live in Paris and study at the National Sports Institute, where I can study and practice at the same time. I study computer sciences. In the mornings I study and in the afternoon I practice with my bow and arrows. All the Olympic Sports can be practiced at the National Sports Institute, so I study and practice together with many other athletes. At the age of 16 I moved to Paris to study and improve in archery.
What was your biggest success so far?
I won first place at the World Cup in Porec this year, so my archery season started out good this year.
Tell us about your bow and arrows.
I shoot a Win & Win bow with a draw weight of 48 pounds and Easton arrows.
What do you like to do in your leisure time?
I like to go out and also like to go to the movies.
What are your dreams?
I'd like to place really well at the Olympic Games.
What are your plans for the time when you quit shooting?
I'd like to work in the IT field. I have no desire to work as a coach. I don't want to do what I always did before, even though the perception will be a different one as a coach.
What weather do you like best for shooting? I like sunny weather the best.
Did you do any special preparations for the Olympics?
My preparation for the Olympics is stretched out over the whole year, so nothing special.
Are you on a diet before the tournament?
No, I eat pretty much everything.
What are you doing to keep a steady focus during competition?
That's not a problem for me. I may listen to music during my breaks, but only for some entertainment.
What advice would give to other shooters?
Don't try to rush things, because if you do, you'll get burned out easily. Go slow and try to improve one step after another. Andre GEGG FITA Communication
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