Alison Williamson yesterday shot a perfect 10 with her final arrow to reach the last 16 of the archery competition here, despite the perennial disadvantage of being short-sighted.
Williamson, 28, who was once famously photographed nude in half-light for an exhibition in the National Portrait Gallery, on Tuesday will be attempting to add an Olympic medal to her second-place finish at the 1999 world championships.
Shooting against Elif Altinkaynak, of Turkey, she finally won by 157-154, hitting the 12.2cm bull, the size of a grapefruit, from the distance of 70m. Barry Eley, the team manager, said: ”I am ecstatic at the result. It was a very tense round.”
The competition will continue to be a straight knock-out event through to the final, with Williamson striving to finish better than her best Olympic placing of eighth in Barcelona. She was tenth in Atlanta.
Williamson does not wear glasses or contact lenses in competition because she would not be able to see the sight through which she aims at the target. ”I just aim for the yellow blur. I'm not blind and I can see the target well enough, although sometimes I have to use my binoculars to check exactly where the arrow went.”
Much of her success in the final depends on how she copes with any winds, which can be strong in this city. Archery, at the top level, is principally a mental activity, in which control of nerves and concentration are vital. To help her achieve this, Williamson has a sports psychologist with whom she keeps in touch by telephone and e-mail. She has also brought tapes to the Games, which she plays repeatedly to help her visualise matches and build her confidence.
The support of the national lottery has been a huge help. Its assistance has enabled her to be a full-time, although not highly rewarded, competitor. “In 1992, I was a student and in 1996, I was juggling activities. This time it is easier,” she said.
In her spare time, she reads extensively, her two latest books being Che Guevara’s motorcycle diaries and a novel by Martin Amis, but what she really likes to do is to sleep. “I find that really easy.”
Her introduction to archery came early in her life. Both her parents were archers and her mother continued in competitions when she was pregnant with Alison. Alison, herself, began shooting at seven near her Shropshire home, went on to become a junior international at 14, and then won a sports scholarship to Arizona State University, where she studied social work. She was the first Briton ever to receive an archery scholarship to a US university.
Williamson has planned meticulously for this competition, drawing up lists of possible problems and how she would cope with them. “I calmed down last week in preparation for the tournament, paying attention to all the little things and especially the necessary concentration.
Has she visualised the moment of winning? “Yes, I have. That would be quite cool.”
John Goodbody
The Times
