14 July 2010 - Naomi FOLKARD (GBR): “Field is a whole lot of fun!”

Naomi FOLKARD (GBR): “Field is a whole lot of fun!” Visegrad (HUN) – 14 July 2010   Olympian in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, Naomi FOLKARD (GBR) had to go through a shoulder operation in the winter of 2008-09. She is climbing her way back since then and field archery is helping her to do so.  Hello Naomi! Let’s start with the simple question, how is it going? It is going well. I am happy to be here at the world field championships. I have been shooting field for five years. Every target is a new challenge and it is a whole lot of fun! Field archery has a more relaxed atmosphere, which I like very much. I also think that I am learning some things that help me with the regular target archery at 70 metres.   What are your ambitions here? I am not in my top shape but I still hope to make a medal. I will take it day by day. I will concentrate on the things I need to do and I hope to be satisfied at the end.   After the 2008 Olympic Games you had a shoulder surgery. How did you recover and have you fully recovered? On 29 December 2008, I had a shoulder surgery. It is like I wanted to wait after Christmas but get over it before the New Year (smiling). In fact, I could not wait anymore. My labrum cartilage in the shoulder had been hurting for two years and I needed to get this operation done. Afterthat, I could not shoot for three months. Then I followed a physical program and drew weights in order to get the muscle back in my shoulder. In the second part of the year 2009, I started to shoot at a reasonable level again.   And you won a bronze medal at the World Games! Yes! photo That was a boost in confidence and hopefully I can get the same here. However, I don’t think I am shooting as well as I used to before my operation. My alignment is not stabile and I am shooting too much left or right on the target. When the arrow is gone, I know exactly when that happens (before the arrow lands on the target). However, during the shot, I still have trouble to correct this. I am working hard, actually shooting more arrows than before the 2008 Olympic Games. I don’t know what else to do to come back to my top shape. Maybe time will tell.  How does the rest of 2010 look like for you! The good news is that I managed to get through both trials for the British national team and the English team for the Commonwealth Games. So I can compete at the Archery World Cup and I will go to New Delhi in October for the Commonwealth Games.   Of course, you see the London 2012 Olympic Games in your future? I am not so much projecting myself in the Games, because it is a bit too far in the future. However, it is a long-term goal and it would be great to participate in the Olympic Games in my own country. In Beijing, we just missed the team bronze medal. We need to work even better as a team to climb on the podium this time. However, Amy OLIVER is bringing some competition to the three 2008 Olympians (Alison WILLIAMSON, Charlotte BURGESS and myself). I hope this will bring every one’s level up!   Thank you Naomi and good luck for all your goals!   Didier MIEVILLE World Archery Communication