Team Mall '08- Neil Stirton Interview
We interviewed Neil to find out more about his sport of target shooting and discover what motivates him...
Q. What is it that first attracted you to your sport?
As a kid I was always interested in aiming; be it with a ball, shuttlecock, Frisbee or the like and proving to myself that I could place it where I wanted. I'd been to the carnivals and shot an air rifle but I know that was just a toy. I wanted to try using proper equipment in a controlled environment ... I looked up Target Rifle Shooting in the Yellow Pages. The rest is history and I've never looked back!
Q. What has been your biggest achievement to date and what are your key objectives in the run up to getting to the Beijing Olympics?
A Silver medal at the XVIII Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, 2006.
On the run up to Beijing, my main objective is to make top 20 at the World Championships and final at a World Cup.
Q. How often do you train, and what does an average training day consist of for you?
An average week consists of getting up at 6:30am and doing varying forms of aerobic exercise such as jogging and swimming. It's then off to work for the day job as a Business Analyst. All attempts are made to leave the office by 5pm to get to the range for 5:30pm to get the range setup ready for technical training. All psyched and raring to go, it's time to focus on technique. During off-peak season each and every technical element is broken down and independently worked upon, with the goal of pulling it all together in the couple of months prior to competition season, during which time we focus on match preparation and simulation.
Q. What does your sport require most to be successful?
You require extreme mental stamina and toughness because you can't control the outcome of anyone else, only your own destiny.
Q. What preparations do you make just before a competition? Any superstitions or routines you go through to be mentally prepared?
My equipment is checked thoroughly, especially if I have travelled by plane. I will also find out the competition schedule, and then track back from there to work out what to eat and when, how much I need to drink to stay hydrated and how much sleep I need.
Look back at some of your best performances and remind yourself of how you felt, and notes you took that helped you achieve that top-class performance. All of which helps to reconfirm that you can do it!
Q. Do you have a top tip for aspiring champions?
It is both the triumphant and trying times that help define you as an athlete. The difference is that YOU won't give up and YOU will learn and grow from your experiences! Unlike the 100m sprint, shooting is a duration sport that requires both physical and mental stamina to allow you to compete at the highest of levels. If you believe and trust in your own ability, all the hard work training will pay off and you will succeed.
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