The World Archery Championships took place while it was “raining horizontally” last week in Berlin. Difficult conditions that complicated the task of the athletes, including Quebecer Virginie Chénier, 57th in the individual recurve bow event.
Chénier first took the 52nd echelon in qualifying because of his 623 points. She then faced Spaniard Irati Unamunzaga Altuna in the first round.
The latter took the lead in the opening end, then doubled her lead by winning the second set by a single run. Virginie Chénier trailed 4-0 when she scored, having a 23-22 lead in the third round. His opponent closed the books in a very tight fourth set, when the victory was once again decided by a single point.
“There has been rain every day and when the rain goes horizontal, it’s not good news for us,” said Virginie Chénier to Sportcom. In qualifying, the winds were manageable, but on game day, I received a severe wind weather alert on my cell phone. It was a bit of a toss up at the time and it didn’t go my way, although it was pretty close. »
The Czech Marie Horackova was crowned world champion in the recurve bow ahead of the Mexican Alejandra Valencia and the Japanese Noda Satsuki.
A constant adjustment
History repeated itself for Virginie Chénier during the two team events.
“In this kind of situation, you must above all remember that it is the same for everyone. The wind isn’t just there for you, it’s there for the other competitors too. It will be the person who can handle it better, or who has a little more luck who will win, ”she summed up.
The Lavalloise joined forces with those of Kristine Esebua and Stephanie Barrett in the women’s team tournament. Together, they amassed 1,830 points in qualifying and missed the first round elimination by two points. They are 25th in the final standings.
Chénier then shot in the mixed event with Crispin Duenas and Eric Peters, with whom she totaled 1282 points good for 23rd place in qualifying. In the first round, the Canadian trio lost 6-0 to the British and finished in 17th place.
After the Medellin World Cup last June, the Quebecer said she was working on the new approach introduced by coach Ron Van der Hoff, in office since January. She felt a difference in Berlin and wants to continue working on her technique, regardless of the weather conditions.
“There were additional challenges at Worlds. You don’t want to be distracted by the weather, even if there’s a squall when you release. You also have to shoot quickly before the winds change so that you don’t always start your adjustment again, ”summarized the one who participated in her fifth World Championships.
The event nevertheless ended on a high note for Virginie Chénier and the Canadian team.
Ontarian Eric Peters finished on the second step of the podium in the recurve bow. Leading 2-0 in the final, he finally admitted defeat 6-4 against the defending champion, the Turkish Mete Gazoz.
” It was great! We were there in the rain to cheer him on in the final. It’s also all his progress this season that is great, ”said Chénier.
According to her, the arrival of Ron Van der Hoff in the program had a great impact on this result.
“It’s good to have a change and try different things. Our coach has a lot of experience, he brings us all his knowledge and we have confidence in him. The whole national team is moving in the right direction. »
2023-08-10 18:41:52
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