Natalia LESNIAK (POL) on the rise

  Natalia began shooting early and it was not long before she achieved great success. The year 2011 already has meant success for her because she got 9th place in the Turin World Archery Championships. However, she doesn’t want to stay there. She never gives up and tries to do her best all the time. As she says, “winning is not everything. The most important is your attitude, your team and the coach. If you fail to succeed it is not a failure. You always have to try to do your best and that is much more important than winning”. After a long day of competitions at the World Archery Youth Championships in Legnica on Wednesday, we asked her some questions.   How did you start your adventure with archery? I was 9 when I started shooting. My uncle had an archery club so I joined in. From the early stages of my life I watched and admired archers and this sport. I was not the only one shooting; my brother and the rest of family were shooting, too. He did it first and I followed in his steps. This is how I started my career as an archer. Now, I am happy that I have done it!   When did you decide to take up this sport more seriously? When I won the Polish junior championships I left my old archery club and moved to Lucznik Zywiec. It was hard to leave people I knew but there were greater opportunities for me to develop professionally. Now, I strongly believe that it was a good choice.   What would you like to achieve during the archery youth championships in Legnica? First of all, I would like to shoot as well as possible and develop as a good archer. I have to do everything I can to release the stress which always appears during competitions. Second, it is about winning. Personally, I would like to defend my medal from the USA.   What is your recipe for success? You always have to be hardworking and determined. This is recipe for all areas of the life. The failures are results of the work and you have to treat it as a part of your progress. You cannot give up too quickly. It is a good piece of advice for those who start their adventure with archery: never give up!!!!   What is your greatest success and why? In my opinion it was my individual 9th place in Turin. It is quite a high place and my dreams came true. I am happy that I did it. I didn’t want to let my team down so I did my best.   How do you recall the championships in Ogden in USA? I was nervous and maybe that is why I don’t remember it so well. Well… What I liked about it was the excellent organization of the sporting event. Everything was prepared well – especially trucks. The scenery was outstanding – beautiful mountains which gave me the power to focus on my aim. And we achieved some very high positions there(team bronze medal).   How do you deal with the stress? There are different ways of releasing the stress. You can take deep breaths, listen to music or think about something that you like. When I am nervous, I listen to “The Nightwish”. They are an amazing group of musicians, and if I am sleepy this music always give me energy. But on the other hand, some of their songs make me calm. I also know that my family and my coach will be with me and that gives me strength. They are calling me to tell everything will be all right and as I said earlier the results are not the most important.    Do you think that there is still the possibility to qualify a full team for the Olympic Games and what are your individual chances? Of course there are is a chance and I hope we will qualify. You should always keep hope alive and believe that everything will be all right. If we go to London as a team it will be great but if not, we would need to go back and work harder. I am already delighted that in Turin I secured one individual spot for Poland at the Olypmic Games. Now we will see who is going there.   Do you have any plans for the future? I would like to become a coach but right now I am trying not to think about the future because I have to focus on the present moment. It is vital not to distract your mind especially when doing a sport such as archery.   Do you think it is good that the World Archery Youth Championships are organised here in Legnica? Yes, of course! It is nice because these are my last junior championships, so it is special. Next year I’ll compete only with seniors. There is a great atmosphere and I like it very much. The opening ceremony of the championships was fantastic. I admired the children who carried the boards of the country names. They were all dressed superbly! I am proud of Poland and the championships here in Legnica.   What do you think about the volunteers who help during these championships? I believe that they do their best to support archers and staff members. I do not see them very often, because I am focused on the competition. However, I know that they are nearby and if I need their help I am sure they will help me.   Thank you Natalia and good luck!   Some background information:   First Name: Natalia Family name: LESNIAK Nick Name: Kola Archer Id: 7706 Country: Poland Gender: Female Date of birth: 10.07.1991 Languages: English Birth place:  Sucha Beskidzka Height: 164 Handedness: right Occupation: Hotel manager Education: college Hobbies: archery Other sports: only archery matters No. of childrens: 0 Martial status: single Club: Lucznik Zywiec Coach: Jan Lach Started Archery: May 2000, 9 y old     Barbara OKINSKA and Monica SZPAKOWSKA World Archery Communication