SHOOTING: Day 3 at the shooting hall saw the competition move into the women’s 10m Air Rifle. Queenslander, Monika Woodhouse stepped up to the line in the qualification round.

The 2014 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is Woodhouse’s first ever international event and was up against some formidable opponents.

“There’s a bit of pressure but I tried not to let it get to me,” she said.

“You can feel it, you know everyone is here to do well and everyone wants to win, so what happens, happens.”

The girls are required to shoot 40 shots in 50mins and shoot standing up, a big ask when the rifle weighs several kilograms and precision is key

Woodhouse put together a score of 396.3 but was unfortunately unable to make the final eight.

Despite the result, Woodhouse’s coach, Carrie Quigley said her level of shooting has come a long way since qualifying for the YOG back in October 2013.

“I can be happy I guess,” Woodhouse said.

“I’ve never been in a competition like this before so it was a bit different.”

Woodhouse and fellow shooter and YOG athlete, Elise Downing, attend the same school in Brisbane and also train at the same range.

Downing’s family have made the trip over to Nanjing and have been support the entire shooting team through every pull of the trigger.

“It’s really good, to have that support around me is really cool, and to have Carrie around is really good as well,” she said.

Tomorrow is the last day of the individual events, with Daniel Clopatofsky competing in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle.

Next up are the mixed international events, where the Aussie team will be partnered with a shooter of the opposite gender.

Woodhouse will be hoping to keep her hopes of a medal alive.

“I think they’ll be a lot of fun, hopefully I can shoot well for my teammate,” Woodhouse said.

Sam Rawlings
Olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam