Read Florian's interview and his exciting insights into the world of archery

WHAT FASCINATES YOU ABOUT ARCHERY?

For me it is to imagine the perfect shot and then make it happen! If that shot hits the target, it’s perfect!

IS ARCHERY NOT A COMPETITION?

Of course it is. However, in archery everyone mainly competes against themselves and they compare performances afterwards. It’s very objective, there’s no room for interpretation.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

You don’t have any influence over your opponent, we don’t have any contact when we’re at the shooting range. We shoot our program and see what happens. Even if I shoot almost perfectly, I could still lose if the other person has that one shot better than me. It only makes sense to focus on myself. We’re happy if we shoot a personal best, and if someone else shoots better, so be it. But you strive to do your very best. And that’s where mental strength is key: it’s about executing the shot the way you want it. However, this is where the fear of the wrong shot quickly comes in, which you have to completely block out. So you’re also fighting against your own thoughts, as it were.

?IS ARCHERY A LONELY SPORT?

I wouldn’t say that. Even though, as I said, we don’t see the others at the shooting range and it’s everyone for themselves, at the same time we go to the target after three or six arrows and discuss everything together. There we have a lot of time to talk at length. When I’m shooting, I’m in a bubble, but we talk a lot before and after. By the way, archers do that at all levels – even at the Olympics.

ARE THERE OTHER ASPECTS THAT FASCINATE YOU?

Yes, certainly. There’s the technical side. The interaction with the bow. You’re constantly optimising things, trying out this or that until everything sits just right for you. Then you develop further and of course you have to adapt the equipment again. That never stops. I like that

DO YOU HAVE A CERTAIN RITUAL TO FIND YOUR FOCUS?

Only for the individual shot. From the moment I insert the arrow, everything is always the same. That makes for better results. But there’s nothing like superstition or anything like that. Imagine if you weren’t able to do that on a given occasion. That brings us back to mental strength. I don’t need such a ritual.

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE BY TRAINING?

The main aspects happen in your mind: what can I improve in the mental process around taking the shot? Then the shooting process itself: what movements do I make? Depending on the movement in question, they’re easier or harder to reproduce. We look for the most error-tolerant and reproducible movement sequence. You improve by repeating an optimally repeatable set of movements. There’s also a difference between training and competition. If something works in training but not in competition, there’s room for improvement.

IF YOU COULD MAKE A WISH FOR ARCHERY IN GENERAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

More people should just try it out. It’s really interesting when we do training for beginners – there we see their fascination and enjoyment right from the first shot. If more people tried it, then more would discover archery as a sport for themselves. I’m sure of that.

Different DNA – Same Attitude.