Stephanie's Olympic Journey
Donation protected
For as long as I can remember being interested in sport, Archery and the Olympics have quietly been by my side, patiently waiting for me.
I remember the first time picking up a bow was during a school trip, I was probably 12 or 13 at the time. We were divided into small groups, and each cycled through various activities; canoeing, kayaking, arts & crafts, and archery. Once one cycle was complete, we were encouraged to go freely to any activity for the rest of the day. I immediately ran back to the archery range and spent the rest of the day loving every moment of it. While other students continued cycling through the activities, I just couldn't get enough archery!
But with no nearby clubs at the time, and focus put back onto school and career, Archery had to bide its time, patiently waiting for another alignment of circumstance before it could really take hold.
Olympic games came and went, and I would cheer and do what I could to support our athletes on their journeys, but there was always something quietly whispering to me from unfathomably far away.
It wasn't until only a few years ago when Archery managed to appeal to a friend of a friend, who then reminded me of long faded memories of spending the day at the range with a bow in my hand. I had realized then how much I had dearly missed my old friend Archery. And as chance would have it, there were now several clubs in the area all offering beginner lessons!
Since the moment of my first lesson, a passion had been reignited inside me that I hadn't felt for a long time. Nothing was going to separate me from my bow, and nothing was going to hinder my progress.
A few years on, and I have gone from just being able to land all my arrows on the target to winning Provincial and National titles. In 2018, I ranked as the top woman in indoor competition, and in the top five for outdoor competition nationally. This earned me an opportunity to attend a National Team training camp and selection to the National Team travelling to Chile for a Pan-Am Games qualification event. These are just two of the steps of my journey to winning my Olympic gold medal.
2019 Campaign:
With the Olympics being next year, this year will be instrumental in testing my technique and strategies at higher level events in preparation for the Olympics. Additionally, qualification for the Olympics takes place this year, making this year extremely important. The major events I have planned are the previously mentioned Pan-Am Games Qualifier in Chile (April), the World Championships (an Olympic qualifier) in Netherlands (June), and the Pan-Am Games (an Olympic qualifier) in Lima (August). There is an estimated cost of $2500-$3000 CAD for each of these events, plus up to 4 additional National level events, each with an expected cost of $500-$1000. I have estimated my training and equipment costs this year to be approximately $2000.
2020 Campaign:
Building on the successes of 2019, and with a singular Olympic focus for the year, the 2020 season will be quite front heavy on travel and intensity. I have just returned from a Training Camp in Florida (January), and it will be followed closely by Team Trials in Montreal (February) and the Pan-Am Championships & Olympic Qualifier in Mexico (March). Following that there is a short break, but depending on the results from Mexico, it could mean travelling to China and Florida (May), then California and Germany (June), followed by either the Olympic Games in Japan, or the Canadian Championships in PEI and USA Championships in Virginia (July & August).
Currently, I spend most of my time training at the gym and at the range, but I also work part time as an archery instructor and I volunteer at two local archery clubs.
On the advice of my friends, family, and coaches, I have decided to start a Go Fund Me campaign to help raise funds to offset the costs of competition, travel, and equipment for the upcoming season. Your generous donation will go a long way to help me take those next steps on my journey to Olympic gold.
Thank you so much for your time and attention! If you are interested in following along with my season, I post frequent updates on Facebook, Instagram, and my website.
Be sure to check out my teammate's campaign over here, too!
Thank you!
~ Stephanie
(Nov 2019 - Balance Training)
(Oct 2018 - Form Analysis Video)
(Apr 2018 - Sometimes you can't travel to warm places to train ..)
I remember the first time picking up a bow was during a school trip, I was probably 12 or 13 at the time. We were divided into small groups, and each cycled through various activities; canoeing, kayaking, arts & crafts, and archery. Once one cycle was complete, we were encouraged to go freely to any activity for the rest of the day. I immediately ran back to the archery range and spent the rest of the day loving every moment of it. While other students continued cycling through the activities, I just couldn't get enough archery!
But with no nearby clubs at the time, and focus put back onto school and career, Archery had to bide its time, patiently waiting for another alignment of circumstance before it could really take hold.
Olympic games came and went, and I would cheer and do what I could to support our athletes on their journeys, but there was always something quietly whispering to me from unfathomably far away.
It wasn't until only a few years ago when Archery managed to appeal to a friend of a friend, who then reminded me of long faded memories of spending the day at the range with a bow in my hand. I had realized then how much I had dearly missed my old friend Archery. And as chance would have it, there were now several clubs in the area all offering beginner lessons!
Since the moment of my first lesson, a passion had been reignited inside me that I hadn't felt for a long time. Nothing was going to separate me from my bow, and nothing was going to hinder my progress.
A few years on, and I have gone from just being able to land all my arrows on the target to winning Provincial and National titles. In 2018, I ranked as the top woman in indoor competition, and in the top five for outdoor competition nationally. This earned me an opportunity to attend a National Team training camp and selection to the National Team travelling to Chile for a Pan-Am Games qualification event. These are just two of the steps of my journey to winning my Olympic gold medal.
2019 Campaign:
With the Olympics being next year, this year will be instrumental in testing my technique and strategies at higher level events in preparation for the Olympics. Additionally, qualification for the Olympics takes place this year, making this year extremely important. The major events I have planned are the previously mentioned Pan-Am Games Qualifier in Chile (April), the World Championships (an Olympic qualifier) in Netherlands (June), and the Pan-Am Games (an Olympic qualifier) in Lima (August). There is an estimated cost of $2500-$3000 CAD for each of these events, plus up to 4 additional National level events, each with an expected cost of $500-$1000. I have estimated my training and equipment costs this year to be approximately $2000.
2020 Campaign:
Building on the successes of 2019, and with a singular Olympic focus for the year, the 2020 season will be quite front heavy on travel and intensity. I have just returned from a Training Camp in Florida (January), and it will be followed closely by Team Trials in Montreal (February) and the Pan-Am Championships & Olympic Qualifier in Mexico (March). Following that there is a short break, but depending on the results from Mexico, it could mean travelling to China and Florida (May), then California and Germany (June), followed by either the Olympic Games in Japan, or the Canadian Championships in PEI and USA Championships in Virginia (July & August).
Currently, I spend most of my time training at the gym and at the range, but I also work part time as an archery instructor and I volunteer at two local archery clubs.
On the advice of my friends, family, and coaches, I have decided to start a Go Fund Me campaign to help raise funds to offset the costs of competition, travel, and equipment for the upcoming season. Your generous donation will go a long way to help me take those next steps on my journey to Olympic gold.
Thank you so much for your time and attention! If you are interested in following along with my season, I post frequent updates on Facebook, Instagram, and my website.
Be sure to check out my teammate's campaign over here, too!
Thank you!
~ Stephanie
(Nov 2019 - Balance Training)
(Oct 2018 - Form Analysis Video)
(Apr 2018 - Sometimes you can't travel to warm places to train ..)
(Sep 2017 - Form Analysis Video)
Organizer
Stephanie Barrett
Organizer
Mississauga, ON
