“The World Cup is the best thing FITA has ever done!”, says Camilla Soemod from Denmark during an interview at the World Cup in Antalya.

“The World Cup is the best thing FITA has ever done!”

Says Camilla Soemod from Denmark during an interview at the World Cup in Antalya.

Antalya - June 06, 2006. The 21-year old Danish (born on 27.02.85) and fresh Individual Indoor European Champion in Compound Women got quite a scare shortly after her title. One week later, she broke her two arms and jaw in an accident. She looks very fine now but she is still fighting to get back in her best shape.

Camilla, how do you feel here in Antalya ?
Better than in Porec… In Croatia, I had just started to shoot again 10 days before this World Cup opening. I didn’t do well there. Now, I am coming back in shape but I am still missing a bit of muscles in my arm to be constant. Give me another month and I’ll be 100%.

But Antalya’s competition is today, what do you expect ?
Actually, I am never expecting anything but I always want to win. In a sense, I expect to do my best according to my current shape.
you are coming back from an injury, will the long qualifications be difficult for you ?
On the one hand I am still lacking a bit of consistency, but on the other hand they are also periods when I shoot really well. So the average, out of 72 arrows, stays high. However, right now, I can’t guarantee I will shoot well with any given 12 arrows during a match.
Is the ranking in the qualifications critical to be then successful in match play ?
Less now than before. We changed the format from 18 arrows to 12 this year from the very beginning of the elimination rounds (match play). I don’t think many archers like this, because it increases the luck factor. However, since I am not in top form, it may be in my favor in Antalya.

What do you think about the World Cup altogether ?
I think it is the best thing FITA has ever done ! This is what we need to appear more in the media and get more interest from people outside archery. However, the format of qualifying only 4 archers to the Final in Mexico is a bit tough. I can’t even imagine how hard it will be in the men’s recurve category. Maybe, FITA could enlarge the finals to the top 8 archers per category in the future.

You were Junior World Champion in 2002 and earned other medals early in you career. However, 2005 was a breakthrough for you with many good results and a team bronze medal at the World Championships in Madrid. Did you change anything in 2005 ?
I guess I became a bit more mature in the sport. Archery is 80% mental and I became more constant in this area. This is what actually keep me motivated, because you can always improve on your mental.

This is a quality that can help in many areas. What do you do beside archery ?
I am studying business economics and laws at the university in Ahrus, Denmark. I’ll graduate in about two years.

What will you do after that ? 
I hope to earn a lot of money but I am not sure that it will be possible with archery. However, the values I learn in archery such as to focus, not to be afraid of competitions, to work hard to win are also qualities that will help me in any professional life. I also like the world of archery where we meet people from so many cultures and help each others. 
 
Then, good luck in you career and good luck in Antalya ! 
Thank you !
 
Didier Miéville
FITA Communication