ARCHERY: Australia’s bronze-medal winning Olympic men’s archery team and Paralympic bronze medallist Jonathon Milne will all be back in action this weekend at the Australian Open in Brisbane.

Ryan Tyack, Taylor Worth and Alec Potts claimed Australia’s first medal at last year’s Rio Olympics when they shot their way to team bronze on the opening Sunday of the Games.

And Milne won Australia’s first Paralympic archery medal in more than 30 years when he finished third in the men’s compound.

This weekend will be the first time the quartet have been back in the the same competition since the Games, but on this occasion Tyack, Worth and Potts won’t be working together.

25-year-old Tyack went through a roller-coaster of emotions at Rio, but he knows where he possibly fell short, and what he has to do to turn it around.

“My performance at the Games was a mixed bag,” Tyack said this week.

“I had a few equipment issues the week before leaving, as well as not having the perfect technique. But the Olympics doesn't come often and times like that you make the best of the situation you find yourself in.

“Since Rio I have been working on those technical flaws that I carried into the Games, although changing major aspects of technique can be a delicate process, But I'm confident that once I get it down I'll be better than ever.”

It’s the start of a long year involving World Cups and a World Championships, with Australia keen to build on not only their outstanding Olympic result, but a string of good results they achieved pre-Rio.

Like his teammates, Tyack took time off after Rio, dabbled in a few new areas, but said he was keen to get back on the range.

“Since Rio I have been doing a few public speaking appearances and trying to develop and build something around that so that I can continue with my shooting towards Tokyo,” he said.

“I was super happy with my performance in the team event in Rio, hitting the 10 over 70 per cent of the time, which was incredible. Unfortunately I wasn't able to maintain that form in my individual matches.

“Still being able to come home with a medal is a fantastic experience and achievement. And given that I do archery for the pure passion of it, the ability to recommence my training was not a challenge for me.”

The Australian Open will be contested at Brisbane’s Samford Valley on Saturday and Sunday.

Ross Solly
Archery Australia