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It’s nearly time to go at Chateauroux!
Experienced Para-shooters Natalie Smith and Anton Zappelli are set to take centre stage at Chateauroux Shooting Centre this week, pulling on the green and gold to represent our nation across four events during the Paris Paralympic Games.
Boasting a combined seven Games appearances between them, Smith and Zappelli will continue Australian shooting’s proud record of representation at every Paralympics since the sport was included on the program in 1976 – an honour and piece of history not lost on the pair.
“There’s nothing like the Paralympics,” Smith said.
“We represent Australia at World Cups and World Champs, but the Paralympics are just completely on another level and something different – it’s just an amazing experience every single time.”
Zappelli echoed Smith’s sentiments.
“It’s a privilege for me, it makes me proud to represent Australia and compete at the highest level for my country,” he said.
The duo will join 158 athletes from around the world to compete across the seven-day program from August 30 to September 5.
Zappelli will battle it out in two events, the R3 mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1 and R6 mixed 50m rifle prone SH1, while Smith will also head to the firing line in two events, the R8 women’s 50m air rifle 3 positions SH1 and the R2 women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1.
It was the latter event back in 2012 at her maiden Games in London in which Smith surpassed Ashley Adams as our most recent medallist in shooting, taking home a bronze medal in the R2 women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 in an inspired performance.
Twelve years later and with more experience to draw upon, Smith knows what she is capable of and hopes to bring her best shots when it matters to ensure she can hold her head high in Paris regardless of the outcome.
“Since Tokyo I have been working hard on the balance between relaxation and tension as I had challenges with that at the 2020 Games,” she said.
“Maintaining the ability to have both at the same time and manage them is a skill I’ve been focusing on for the last few years.
“It’s just that drive for perfection with every single shot and I know the biggest competition on the day is myself. I’m only ever competing against me as I can’t influence anybody else and they can’t influence me, so whatever I can do on the day is up to me.”
After arriving in France last Thursday, the right-hander – from Meadowbrook in Queensland – said she had adjusted well to the time zone and has had the chance to train at the world-class Paralympic shooting venue situated two and a half hours south of capital in Chateauroux.
“During these lead in days it’s all about familiarising yourself with the range; where you need to be, getting out on the 50 range, watching the wind and seeing how the range reacts along with the weather,” Smith said.
Shooting has a long history in Smith’s family – her grandfather Norman Lutz was set to compete at the Melbourne 1956 Olympics but fell ill before the Games and was unable to participate.
In Paris, Smith will have plenty of family support of her own in the crowd with her husband Stuart and son Daniel cheering from the stands, which will no doubt be a special moment for the 49-year-old.
“The ability to share this with them and for Daniel to be old enough now to sort of take it all in and experience it as well, it will be once in a lifetime opportunity for him, as well as me, and it’s a dream come true having them here.”
A two-time world championship silver medallist in the R3 mixed 10m air rifle prone, Zappelli said he’ll lean on past experiences from international events to help him achieve the best result possible in Paris and has been working on one element of his process – “patience”.
“I think since Tokyo I’ve tried to work on a number of things, but the main one is patience,” Zappelli said.
The father of three had admirable finishes in his two events in Tokyo given his interrupted preparations, placing 11th overall in the R6 mixed rifle prone SH1 with a score of 616.0 and 15th in the mixed 10 metre air rifle prone SH1, recording 631.6.
Heading into these Games, the right-handed shooter from Boulder in WA knows he’ll be up against a hot field in Paris.
“I’m playing in the biggest competitions within the mixed events and there are many competitors who are capable of winning these matches, so I’m aiming to make a final and then get myself the best chance of a medal,” he said.
Watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on the 9Network and 9Now live and free, and on Stan Sport from August 28 to September 8.
By: Danielle Balales, Paralympics Australia
Published: 28 August 2024
