Teenage archer Penny Healey expressed her struggle to hold back tears after the British women’s archery team was eliminated by Germany in the Paris Games.
At 19, Healey, inspired to pursue archery after watching the Disney-Pixar film Brave, acknowledged feeling some early nerves during the match but assured that she would regroup for her individual event on Thursday.
The unwavering performance of the world champion German team dashed the hopes of Healey and her teammates Megan Havers, 16, and Bryony Pitman, 27, who improved their performance after a rough start.
Healey, who climbed to the top of the world rankings last year, securing two gold medals at the European Games in Krakow, mentioned that it took her a few shots to get comfortable in the competition.
She noted, “The first two shots were filled with shock and nerves because I was actually here shooting. Once I realized, yes, I’m here, I started scoring tens again. [But] the Germans are a really strong team.”
She added, “I’m doing my best to hold back tears right now.”
The British team’s exit in the ‘elimination round’ at Paris’s Esplanade des Invalides, which is close to the Eiffel Tower, shifts Healey’s focus to her upcoming match with Korea’s Jeon Hun-young, 30, a former World Cup gold medalist.
Healey, hailing from Telford in Shropshire, mentioned she would spend the next few days with her boyfriend and family while being “ready” to pursue her aspiration of becoming the second female British archer to win an Olympic medal since the 1908 London Games. “I enjoyed it, actually, having those nerves that I remind myself are excitement,” she shared.
Pitman, from Brighton, stated she would take a day off before honing her preparations for the individual event. “In a match like that, when the Germans were really in form, you can’t afford too many mistakes,” she commented.
Havers, who had to juggle completing her GCSEs this summer with her selection for the Games, expressed her enjoyment of the atmosphere at the outdoor arena.
She reflected, “I started off a bit slow, but I think I shot fairly consistently throughout the match. Being my first Olympics, I felt really nervous coming onto this stage. I know I could have performed better, but it’s a preview for my individual events. I feel prepared for them now.”
