Finnish heavy metal bands and top 40 pop groups may not cross paths too often, but in the Australian Youth Olympic Team, the two have found a common ground.

Australia’s up and coming pistol shooting stars representing their country at this month’s Youth Olympic Games in Singapore could seemingly not be more different if they tried.

On the one hand, there is Janek Janski. Softly spoken and reserved, this 18-year-old Victorian shooter has a depth of character that is closely guarded. Even his face is mostly hidden behind his long hair which drops over his eyes.

“I started shooting just because I wanted to give it a try,” Janski said.

“I played a lot of video games and I wanted to see what other aspects there could be about shooting and found this.

“There is a huge difference to shooting in a game and shooting in real life,” he explained. “They are not even remotely close – you need so much control and concentration in the range.”

So video games got him into it, but what makes Janski tick and gives him the edge to be able to be a top class pistol shooter is his ability to focus and remain cool and collected.

“I always listen to music,” Janski said. “Mostly metal but a bit of techno too – a real variety.”

Pumping through his oversized headphones at the moment is Finnish group ‘Children of Bodom’, a band whose heavy metal is described as trash, progressive, black and even melodic death. Perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea, but it works for this young teenager.

“Everyone’s different,” Janski said. “I find my metal music very relaxing and it has a positive influence on my general state and how relaxed I am. If I don’t listen to enough music I am very nervous and jumpy and when I listen to a lot of music I am very calm and relaxed.”

At the other end of the spectrum is Emily Esposito. The 16-year-old Sydney based athlete has a shock of blond curly hair and wide blue eyes that could easily see her on the front of a magazine rather than backstage at a pistol shooting range.

Esposito was all but born into the sport, with her father having competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in modern pentathlon. She grew up competing in pentathlons alongside sister Chloe and even qualified in that sport for the Games, before deciding to concentrate on her shooting discipline.

Like most girls her age, Esposito is a fan of all the latest chart music, and uses it to help her prepare for competition.

“Usually when I am doing dry-fire I train with music and don’t really talk to anyone,” Esposito said. “I listen to fast songs. If I listen to slow songs I feel sad and that doesn’t help me shoot.”

Pop and ‘whatever is playing on the radio’ is what helps this talented teenager get the focus she needs to get her shots on target.

“The last song on my ipod was Imma Be by the ‘Black Eyed Peas’,” she said, flicking back through the device.

Any heavy metal on there?

“No!” Esposito said with a laugh and a big smile. “No, no metal.”

Esposito and Janski will be in action in the second week of the Games, so until then it is training, more training and a little fun on the side.

“We went to a disco in the Village,” Esposito said. “Everyone was there, they had smoke machines and music, it was cool.”

Shooting will take place at the Singapore Sports School from Sunday 22 August to Wednesday 25 August. John Coombes will be Australia’s first competitor in the 10m air rifle.

Alice Wheeler
AOC