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Friendly rivalry drives trap duo

 

Friendly rivalry drives trap duo

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AOC
Friendly rivalry drives trap duo
Laetisha Scanlan and Catherine Skinner’s friendly rivalry has blossomed into a competitive force driving them towards Rio 2016.

SHOOTING: After taking up professional shooting at the same time, Laetisha Scanlan and Catherine Skinner’s friendly rivalry has blossomed into a competitive force driving them towards Rio 2016.

The women’s trap shooters both secured Games quota spots for Australia earlier this year, but will compete at this weekend’s Oceania Championships with their eye on scoring gold.

“We're lucky enough in terms of our quota spots, we're won them on open market, which makes it a whole lots easier to come into the Oceanias and competing because there's no pressure,” Scanlan said.

“It’s still very beneficial competing against other countries.”

After claiming gold in a dramatic shoot-off at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Melburnian didn’t rest on her laurels.

“The last 18 months you know have been a really great time for me I've really shown that I'm capable of competing on the international circuit and it's given me a lot of confidence.

“Going into 2016 I am definitely confident. I'm currently ranked fifth in the world so that just helps everything.”

For Skinner, Glasgow is something she’d rather forget.

“Securing that quota spot for Australia was a bit of a surprise. I’d just come out of a bit of a horror experience with Commonwealth Games where I tanked in the final. So my confidence was at an all-time low and then I suddenly was in a final at the World Championships and walked out with a quota! So it was very unexpected but it did set a positive precedent.”

The fellow Melburnian combines her training with a hectic schedule of study for chemical engineering at university (RMIT).

“My training has been very minimal but once I got my final report in (for university) I went into the deep end trying to get as many gym sessions in, talking to sports psychologists. Trying to set up a routine coming into Rio. At least I can say I’ve done everything I could possibly do in the lead up.”

Skinner describes the duo’s relationships as a helping hand as they make their way through every competition, both eyeing an Olympic debut.

“Laetisha's a very competitive person and it's been fantastic having her by my side through our entire journey in international sporting competitions because we've been about the same level the whole way through and been able to push each other.

“We're both very different style shooters. She's able to hit those very high scores but she's a bit more unpredictable where as I'm a bit more steady and predictable. I think she's capable of many things.”

Scanlan, 25, said they’ve grown as athletes together.

“Throughout the development of our careers we've also grown together as well. She started winning when I started winning so it's been a very similar process so I think all that training and doing it with someone, progressing like that, it's nice it's comforting that's someone's gone through the same thing as you and the stages.
 
“We respect each other as athletes but at the end of the day we are competing against each other and I think it really helps that she doesn't snore when I room with her!"

Training alongside dual Olympian and Olympic bronze medallist Adam Vella, the 25-year-old has a jam-packed schedule.

“Training for me consists of competing around three to four times a week and then I do a few gym sessions just to keep my body fit. Leading up to the Olympic selection I'll really be training a lot at the range with my coach and my training buddies just to you know really prepare for 2016.”

With the quota spot in hand, Scanlan still needs to book her place in the Australian Team with the shooters selected in April.

“I don't know if I'm confident that I'm going to the Olympics yet but it did help winning the quota at a World Cup because it just gave me that sense that I am capable of medalling on the international circuit.

“Our selection process is happening in January and March so I'm confident that I'll do my best but you know anything can happen. 

And a medal is definitely on Scanlan’s mind.

“I'm definitely going to the Olympics, if I do make the team, to medal. That's the aim. I'm not going there to participate my aim is to medal and do Australia proud. My planning has to been to make the final and then make one of the medal matches. 

“I love representing Australia I'm very patriotic. I just love wearing the green and gold. To make the Olympic team for Rio would be an amazing achievement and I just can't wait to experience something I've never done before.”

Teammate Skinner said making the Australian Olympic Team would be the highlight of her sporting experience.

“Putting on the green and gold at Rio would mean the peak of a 10 year career, a massive journey that’s been very unpredictable. It’ll be just an honour to be put in that position.”

ANNIE KEARNEY
olympics.com.au

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