Pickering Moves Closer To Reaching Olympics
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Camerin Pickering could become the first archer to represent Bermuda at the Olympic Games after achieving the qualification score at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Paris, France.
Pickering shot a personal best of 644 in the men’s 70 metres recurve qualifying round to finish 89th out of 128 of the world’s best archers this week.
The 24-year-old is now eligible for a universality spot for small nations at the Olympics in Paris next summer.
Ross Roberts, the president of the National Archery Association of Bermuda, said the next step was to get the universality spot approved by the Bermuda Olympic Association [BOA] standards committee.
“It was great to get a call from World Archery regarding the universality spot, but there’s a lot of work to do,” Roberts told Bernews. “If we get approval from the BOA standards committee, we will inform World Archery.”
Pickering missed out on competing at the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador, last month because of flight delays in Newark, New York, due to bad weather.
In the first round at the World Cup, Pickering lost 6-4 to Keziah Chabin, of Switzerland.
Also representing Bermuda are Jaydon Roberts and Robin Selley, who, at 15, is the youngest competitor.
In the qualification round, Roberts and Selley both achieved personal bests, Roberts finishing 115th in the men’s 70m recurve with a score of 622, and Selley placing 108th in the women’s 70m recurve with a score of 566.
Roberts lost 7-3 to Devaang Gupta, of Canada, in the men’s first round, while Selley was beaten 6-2 by Simranjeet Kaur, of India, in the women’s opening round.
In the recurve mixed team event, Pickering and Selley came 39th with a score of 1,210.
Trina Roberts, the team coach, said: “When you’re competing with the best in the world, and many are Olympians, you come with your best game.
“These archers have been working hard for this day, and the results did come. The weather was fair, and the winds did get a bit tricky.
“While this is a World Cup shoot, it’s also an opportunity for us to obtain an Olympic qualification score, which is 640 for men and 610 for women.
“We’re pleased Camerin did achieve a qualifying score. There are several other events leading up to the Olympics, and the team will target these.”
All the best and what and accomplishment. Wishing you all the best as well as young Selley