Wietse VAN ALTEN Appointed Athlete Role Model for the YOG

The 2000 Olympic bronze medallist Wietse VAN ALTEN (NED) has been appointed as Athlete Role Model for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.     The Athlete Role Models’ programme was initiated by the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOCOG). The Athlete Role Models are Olympians selected by the various International Federations whose involvement will be crucial for the Youth Olympic Games Culture and Education Programme. The Athlete Role Models must demonstrate the Olympic values—both on and off the field of play. They will share their life story and experience with young people and answer their questions. The Athlete Role Model appointed by World Archery is the 2000 Olympic bronze medallist Wietse VAN ALTEN from the Netherlands. 

VAN ALTEN was born on 24 September 1978 in Zaandam (NED). He came in contact with archery at the age 7 through his best friend at the time, and has competed in archery ever since. After four years of club and national competitions, he started his international career at age 11 in a junior competition at Lilleshall (GBR). At the age of 16, he left his parents' home in Zaandam and moved to the south of the Netherlands to improve his training in archery. He became a member of the senior national team in 1994.

VAN ALTEN's first major international competition was the 1997 World Archery Championships in Victoria (CAN). In the 1999 World Archery Championships in Riom (FRA), he placed 8th and that earned him a spot on the Dutch Olympic team.

At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, VAN ALTEN lost to Simon FAIRWEATHER (AUS) in the semifinals, but bounced back with the highest score of the tournament for a 12-arrow match, scoring 114 and defeating Magnus PETERSSON (SWE) to win the bronze medal. The Dutch team, of which he was a member, placed 9th in the men's team competition. VAN ALTEN at a Grand Prix in Porec 2002 where he shot six x10s in one round in qualifications     After suffering an elbow injury that required surgery in 2001, VAN ALTEN returned to international success in 2003 when he placed 6th at the World Archery Championships held in New York City (USA).  
VAN ALTEN competed at the 2004 Athens Olympics, trying to defend his bronze medal from Sydney. His score in the 72-arrow ranking round was 661, giving him a starting rank of 14th. He won his first match against Ricardo MERLOS (ESA), 152-151. Then in the 1/16 elimination round, he was defeated by Ilario DI BUO (ITA) 164-160. His final rank was 27th overall. VAN ALTEN was also a member of the Netherlands' 5th-placed men's archery team at that Olympics.   VAN ALTEN has shot many European records and is one of the few Europeans to have shot more than 1350 points for the FITA Round. His personal record for the FITA Round is 1358. He was ranked 1st in the world in August 2004.   VAN ALTEN won the team bronze medal at the 2008 European Championships in Vittel (FRA), and although the Netherlands had obtained a quota place for the Beijing Games, he was not selected by his Olympic Committee and retired from competition. 
He is now the Dutch national coach for recurve (Olympic discipline) archery, and trainer in a full-time talent identification programme in the Netherlands, where he trains young archers on their way to London 2012. At the 2007 FITA Congress in Leipzig (GER) VAN ALTEN was elected a member of the FITA Athletes' Committee.   Besides his full-time involvement in archery, he is very fond of road cycling, which he finds really challenging. And you can also find him camping by a lake fishing for big carps! VAN ALTEN winning the bronze medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games     Before the Singapore Youth Olympic Games, like all Athlete Role Models, Wietse VAN ALTEN will try to promote the Youth Olympic Games to the young people of his sport. During the Games, he will participate in the life of the Village, interacting with young participants and local youth. He will take part in the Culture and Education programme through forums, activities and sessions developed around themes like Athlete Skills Development, Olympism, Social Responsibility, and Risks in Sport (including doping and injury prevention). The Athlete Role Models will also participate in sports initiation developed by the SYOGOC and the International Federations for youngsters to participate in sports they have never tried before.   FITA congratulates Wietse VAN ALTEN for his new position within the Olympic movement and wishes him all the best in this function!   Vanahé ANTILLE FITA Communication