2023.3.24
Aiming for the Paris Olympics by Maintaining High Motivation and Continuing to Produce Results
Although Mika Zaitsu didn’t make it to the Tokyo Olympics, she is striving to improve her skills and become mentally stronger, with the goal of continuing to grow with a new gun and pursuing “sensitivity and boldness.” Continuing to produce results, she’ll surely make it to the next Olympics.
- ― Tell us about the Tokyo Olympics.
- I performed at my peak, but didn’t get the results I had hoped for. I agonized over what went wrong. But then a new coach was appointed to the national team, and as I learned more about the European style of strategy, mindset, and technique, I started to believe that I still had scope for improvement.
- ― What changed after the Olympics?
- My gun broke too, so it was a turning point for me. I was really used to my old gun, but thought if I didn’t get a new one now I don’t know when I could. Since the new gun was different in some ways, like its weight and grip angle, I made adjustments so it would fit my hand. After a few months I got used to it and now I can shoot without any issue. The number of competitions decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, so I used the time to prepare and now I can produce the same results as before. At the qualifying match for the Asian Games and Baku World Cup in April 2022, I scored my personal best — 583 out of 600 points.
- ― What abilities are needed in pistol shooting?
- Focus and sensitivity. But if you are too sensitive, your finger won’t move so boldness is important to. So in the end it’s mental strength. I think my strong suit is being able to focus to the point that I’m not affected by my surroundings during competitions. That’s why I have the confidence to hit wherever I aim for. To make that confidence firm, I have to increase my skill level above what it is now. Then I can demonstrate my true potential.
- ― What is your goal for the future?
- To compete in the Paris Olympics. To do that, first I have to secure a spot, so I am going to try to make it to the World Cup or the World Shooting Championships. I want to use my experience advancing to the final qualifying match for the Tokyo Olympics, and continue with an aggressive approach instead of a defensive one. I’m not a top athlete with a position to defend, so I want to overtake all the top athletes and be someone who can pull others forward.
10 Questions ~Shinken Wanna Know!~
- What is the most favorite food and the least favorite food of yours?
- omelet rice / Tomato
- Do you carry out thorough diet control?
- Honestly, I don’t care. I just care intake of protein.
- What do you always keep in the refrigerator?
- Milk, I like milk a lot.
- What do you like to do?
- I like going around hot springs. I can refresh.
- What was your childhood dream?
- A veterinarian. I like animals.
- What is your necessity for competitions?
- I bring something I’ve got from others, such as towels and charms.
- Is there anything that you abstain from for your health?
- I try not to eat sweets too much.
- What is your favorite saying or phrase?
- We should smile even in hard times.
- What do you want to be doing in ten years from now?
- I will have worked hard.
- What do you need in life?
- Smile
Profile
| Results |
|
|---|
