AOC Media Release

    MEDIA RELEASE                                                                                                                        27 JUNE 2012 Lord?s looms for Olympic debutants Two young Australians have booked their tickets for the Olympic archery competition on the hallowed turf of Lord?s Cricket Ground. Teenager Elisa Barnard and 21-year-old Taylor Worth were the best placed Australians at the final qualifying tournament in Ogden, Utah which sealed their positions in the men?s and women?s individual Olympic events.  ?It feels very surreal. It still hasn’t sunk in yet that all my hard work over the years has finally paid off,? Barnard said. ?The atmosphere is going to be incredible. I have heard that it is the largest crowd that archery has ever had. I normally thrive off the adrenalin rush I receive from competition pressure, so I am hoping that this environment will help me excel to new heights,? she added. Her counterpart Worth echoed her sentiments from LA Airport on the long trip back home. ?It feels like a dream come true and it gives me an enormous sense of pride to be able to represent Australia and the Australian archery community at the Olympic Games,? Worth said. At the Utah showdown, Worth defeated countryman Sky Kim – Australia?s highest placed finisher at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He also claimed another scalp in world No.1 Brady Ellison (USA). ?My performance in the United States was one of the best of my career. It has renewed my confidence to go toe-to-toe with the best in the world as I was able to overcome the world number one in my third match,? Worth said. The West Australian made the quarter-final stage only to be knocked out by Mexican Luis Alvarez who went on to win gold. Worth finished sixth overall in an impressive showing just weeks ahead of Olympic competition in London. ?I competed at Lord?s during the London test event late last year and that was a wonderful experience. This time around I will be familiar with my surroundings which will help me to perform better.? For Worth, the Olympic call-up follows a successful Delhi Commonwealth Games campaign where he won gold in the teams event. The same year, he also claimed the national title, a gold medal at the US Open, and was crowned Australian Archer of the Year.  In the women?s event, Barnard entered the match play rounds ranked 70th but proceeded in beating two archers ranked higher than her. Two round wins was all it took after the other Australians failed to win their opening rounds. ?I was happy with my performance, especially under the added pressure of knowing that this was it. All the hard work, all the hours of training, all the sacrifices, everything I had hoped for came down to this moment,? Barnard said.  ?I shot each arrow with a determination and purpose that I have never experienced before. Coming 17th in the world under the added pressure of it being Australia’s final Olympic selection event has boosted my confidence extremely.  ?In saying this, I have analysed my performance and taken away many lessons from this event in how I can significantly improve my performance for London,? the 19-year-old added, showing experience beyond her years. In 2011 Barnard won gold in both the individual and team events at the Australian Open. This January she won Australia?s female quota place at the Oceania Championships.  ?Ideally, my dream is to stand on the podium wearing green and gold and listening to the Australian anthem play. But above all, I want to leave everything on the shooting line. Whatever result I achieve, I want to know that I gave it my absolute all and could not have performed any better in that moment,? the 19-year-old said. In July, the two medallists from the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival will line up with the historic Lord?s Pavilion at their backs as they shoot towards the iconic media centre. Archery is one of the first sport?s to get underway in London, with the men?s and women?s ranking rounds starting on the day of the Opening Ceremony ? Friday 27 July. The archery section of the 2012 Australian Olympic Team: Name Age Now   Age at Games   Born   Lives Elisa Barnard     19 19 Sydney, NSW   Sydney, NSW (2137)   Taylor Worth 21 21 Busselton, WA Canberra, ACT (2617) For more information please contact: Alice Wheeler AOC Media Manager alice.wheeler@olympics.com.au 02 9336 0211 / 0418 961 184   Media Release