Top Guatemalan Barillas excited to compete on home soil

As archers from countries across the Americas and the world converge on Guatemala City for the first stage of the 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup, Julio Barillas will be competing in his own backyard for the first time at an event of this level.

Whether the convenience of performing at home proves beneficial remains to be seen. 

“Shooting at home generates a bit of both confidence and nerves, so I think it’s important to know how to handle it,” Barillas said from Monday’s practice session at the Sports Complex Los Arcos. “It’s better not to have too much confidence and not too much pressure, but to focus more on your job and trust everything you have done through the years.”

“Trusting your work is key.”

The work has paid off as of late for Barillas. The 26-year-old impressed at last month’s Pan American Championships, seeding second in the compound men’s event with 704 points for the 72-arrow 50-metre ranking round, and shooting matches of 148 and 149 points before stepping into the tornado of a finals arena.

With Guatemala’s debut as a leg of the international circuit delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the extended break has afforded Barillas extra time to round into top form as he looks to build off his success – a fourth place – last month in Monterrey.

“I feel very proud. I’ve been shooting for 13 years, and when they announced we will have the World Cup, it was gratifying,” Barillas said. “It shows the work we have done as a team, as an association, as a federation. We have all put in some efforts to have this event here, and I’m super proud.”

Barillas’ attention is now pointed toward making the most of the opportunity. While Guatemala City is home, the Hyundai Archery World Cup is still uncharted territory as he continues his progression as a competitive archer. 

His success at the Pan Ams welcomes a bounty of expectations that are only magnified by the event’s location.

Barilla’s job this week is to focus his attention on executing his own technique – and preventing the added attention from hindering his performance. 

“It’s the first time I’m shooting an international event of this magnitude in Guatemala, so I can’t tell you how it will be. I don’t have a reference,” Barillas said. “I always asked myself what was behind the shooting wall [at events like this], but I do know this area. It’s my city.”