Only class archers in Wroclaw, says Folkard

Naomi Folkard won recurve women’s gold at the World Games in Cali, Colombia in 2013. The four-time Olympian arrives in Wroclaw as the reigning champion in a division that’s never seen a winner repeat at two consecutive editions.

“I think it was because so long ago, it doesn’t feel like it’s something to defend. It was four years ago and a lot has happened in that time,” she said during official practice.

“This is just another competition that I want to win.”

A multiple runner-up at European events, bronze medallist at world field championships and target with the British team, the World Games victory ranks as a huge accomplishment in Folkard’s career.

“I suppose up until that point I had a lot of silver and bronzes, but to actually win something, win a gold, was awesome,” she said.

Repeating the feat won’t be easy.

Although only 12 recurve women compete for gold in Wroclaw, that list includes daunting opponents like Olympic runner-up Lisa Unruh and 2008 world field champion Jessica Tomasi, who is also a two-time medallist at the World Games.

“Everyone who is here is a class archer. I think it’s just as hard to win here as at a world championships, even though there is only a dozen people,” said Folkard.

The Brit thinks against the pure field archers at the event, the new competition style – which puts more emphasis on matchplay – plays in her favour.

“I’m used to doing a lot of matchplay,” she said. “Which field archers aren’t.”

“But then most of the field archers here do a lot of target, too.”

With Wroclaw placed square in the middle of a long outdoor season, culminating in the World Archery Championships in Mexico City in October, Naomi – like many of the dual-discipline archers at the World Games – hasn’t had much time to prepare for field.

“I’ve only done one field competition prior to this, about a month ago, but if I just remember what I have learned over the years, I’ll be fine,” she said, adding: “I know how to shoot field, I just have to remember!”

The recurve field archery competition at the Wroclaw 2017 World Games runs 23-25 July in Szczytnicki Park.