She takes a “vacation” from everyday life in every free moment. The shooting range allows her to get away from the hustle and bustle, calm down and focus her attention not only on her duties. When loading the magazine, he realizes how important it is to The ability to concentrate, because in sport shooting, focus is the key to success. A good eye is a myth, admits with a smile Joanna Kuczerowska-Prus from HK Finance, Junior Champion and Vice-Champion, member of the National Team, participant of international competitions and team Second Vice-Champion of the Polish in Sport Shooting.
Quite an unusual discipline, how did the adventure at the shooting range begin?
I admit, sport shooting is still a niche discipline. My beginnings were in middle school. During one of the PE lessons, recruitment for the section was organized. Our whole group had the opportunity to see what this sport is all about. The coaches watching us saw the potential in me and invited me to participate in regular trainings.
A sporty bull’s-eye?
Not at all! Initially, I had a lot of doubts. I was afraid of weapons, but I was persuaded by a friend who liked the first class very much. We trained two or three times a week, and after some time I was the only one left from the whole recruitment.
Has the barrier been broken?
Shooting got me completely hooked. I really liked the fact that in this discipline the result depends entirely on me.
How much time did you spend at the shooting range?
An average of three hours five days a week.
How many shots are fired?
I’ve never counted (laughs). Training is divided into shots and dry shots. Without ammunition, I can plan everything carefully, working on perfection in body positioning.
Is it so important?
A shot of ammunition causes recoil, and the focus is on the effect instead of the preparation. The errors that can be seen on the dial are due to the position of the body. My job is to minimize situations that affect precision. Especially since the goal is very small. The field of ten on the target for an air rifle, which is shot at from a distance of 10 meters, is only 0.5 millimeters in diameter.
Was the Olympic champion Renata Mauer-Różańska a role model?
Yes, of course she was a role model for me, she still is. I had the opportunity to compete with Renata, we shot in the same competitions. Our champion ended her career a few years ago, withdrawing from competitions. No wonder, she has achieved everything in sports!
How many women shoot sports?
In the Polish Championships, a total of about 80 ladies compete in all categories; Starting with the youngsters and ending with the seniors. It is known that the youngest are the most numerous, because girls have time to train regularly.
How are you doing?
To the best of my ability (laughs). I admit that I train quite rarely these days. I have the equipment at home, so that’s where I usually do dry workouts without ammunition and mental ones, where I arrange everything in my head. I train at the shooting range in Gdynia, so traffic jams during rush hour are an obstacle for me. Getting to the Naval Academy in Oksywie is a real trip.
Sometimes I also train in my home club in Słupsk, which I have been representing for 14 years.
How is a sporting rifle different from the guns seen in the movies?
The sports one is loaded on single ammunition. Film ones have a capacious magazine and shots are fired by machine. In sport shooting, each loaded cartridge requires separate preparations – loading the weapon, trying it on and aiming.
How much does a sporting rifle weigh?
Up to 6.5 kilograms.
How do you get used to such a load?
Systematic training means that although our body is getting better and better at coping with the weight of the equipment, it gets a hard time with the spine. That’s why we weave in general development exercises such as swimming, running and cycling, which strengthen the muscles. A specialized outfit that gently stiffens and supports the spine, which is especially important in the initial phase of your career, is helpful. Shooters start training while they are still developing, so professional equipment is very important.
When does a Sagittarius’ retirement start?
There is no upper age limit. The oldest participant and medalist of the Olympic Games was about 70 years old, but that was 100 years ago (laughs). If someone has time, likes this sport and still maintains a level that gives them satisfaction, I don’t see a problem. There are even fifty-year-olds on the national start lists.
Is your name on these lists all the time?
I try to compete regularly, of course with less intensity than at the peak of my career. My professional duties and priorities have forced me to divide my time rationally. It is easier for me to take part in competitions that are nearby, in May I took part in the second round of the Polish Cup in Bydgoszcz.
Were there any plans for the Olympics? Did you have a chance for this most important start?
When I started training seriously, I was described as one of the Olympic hopes. I was appointed to the National Team, I had the honour to represent the country during international competitions, including in Plzeň. I certainly had predispositions and these motivated me to achieve as much as possible. Unfortunately, my health got in the way, and I had to say no to my dreams.
Does the spirit of sport help you professionally?
Yes. The specificity of the life of an athlete with a lot of responsibilities and suitcases means that from an early age I learned very good organization. I know how to manage my time, I know how to set priorities, and most importantly, I am disciplined. My friends laugh that everything is always worked out to the smallest detail and nothing will happen spontaneously. They also admit that I’m a great organizer!
Next to the laptop, there was a rifle case, how did your co-workers react to it?
With great curiosity (laughs). I’m planning to go to the shooting range together for them and I hope that soon we will be able to work together with a large group. They are interested in my competitions, they ask about trainings, I can see that this shooting world fascinates them a bit.
Is a keen eye essential?
I’m going to surprise you, because many shooters have visual impairments, which can be helped by lenses and corrective glasses. The biggest role in this sport is played by what we have in our heads. If I think to myself “just don’t shoot the eight”, there is a high risk that it will fall in.
How?
I’m not going to take care of some element in my head when I put it together, get ready and shoot. It’s enough for me to lose a component, or I don’t concentrate and the “eight” may accidentally fall in. The eye takes a back seat, as my coach proved when he put me on the shooting range one day, said close my eyes and shoot.
Did you shoot?
First, I arranged my stance, closed my eyes, and fired shots. They were in the shield! Admittedly, not in the bull’s-eye, but they stopped in black.
How much time do you need to fold precisely?
It all depends on the day and the competition. I work differently when I need to wake up, and I work differently when I need peace. On average, it takes one minute to fire one shot with preparation.
Is success determined by millions of repetitions?
Yes, that’s why in training the proportions are split in half – as much as with ammunition, so much on dry. The goal is for the body to retain its muscle memory and work through the individual elements. One day we concentrate on squeezing the trigger, the next day we focus on breathing. Mixing these elements in a common unit results in a mish-mash. I’m a big believer that every workout should allow you to focus on one element. Only competitions are the time when I allow myself to be somewhat automatic.
Where did the most memorable start happen?
I think in 2008, when during the Polish Junior Championships I won gold and silver individually. In later years, I was in the lead, but I was haunted by the curse of fourth place. The most memorable events were the international competitions, which were organized at a completely different level than in Poland. Currently, Wrocław can boast of such a world shooting range. On the other hand, every trip, every start is hard to forget.
What’s in store for the future?
Polish Championships, in which I will start in August. I’m taking it more recreationally, but of course I’ll try to do my best to fight for another personal best.
In medals?
Place is not as important as the record. My dream is to break the 610-point barrier in an air rifle.
How difficult is this task?
For the world’s top scorers, certainly not. In the most important events, their results are about 627 points. The bar is set very high, it’s time to face it!
Interviewed by Dagmara Rybicka, Olivia Business Centre
Janek from Airhelp (naOLIVIAlnia)
Ela from OBC (OBC Choir)
Maciej z Arrow (Role Playing Games)
Magda from Arrow (Wandering Together)
Mariusz (Father’s Club)
