Archer Giorgio Vasiliades zooms to the top of Australian junior ranks
National junior archery champion Giorgio Vasiliades is upping the ante as he seeks to strike at the 2024 Olympics.
Giorgio Vasiliades is the top ranking under-15 archer in Australia, having smashed six records at the 2019 National Youth Championships.
The Earlwood ace, who turns 14 on August 28, captured gold in the under-15 target archery and short distance during the nationals.
He also brought home the under-15 silver indoor and clout bronze.
Giorgio, who is aiming to represent Australia at the 2024 Olympics, is this week’s nominee for Junior Sports Star in the 2019 Local Sports Star Awards.
The highly-focused Giorgio took up archery when he was eight after initially been obsessed with Lego. He praises his coach Riccio Cheah for his success while thanking his parents for their support.
This year he won a scholarship at All Saints Grammar School in Belmore.
“My dad was always looking for a sport for me to do,” said the NSW under-15 indoor champion.
“I wasn’t the most athletic person and wasn’t great at too many active sports.
“I would always make Lego guns at home with elastic bands which sparked an idea. Dad wanted me to start shooting but we realised that I was underage.
“The closest thing to shooting was archery so I started archery and absolutely loved it.
“My biggest success in my career so far has been winning the gold medal in both main events at the nationals,”
“I believe that the real success was being able to follow my mental process, stay to my plan and not get distracted by the score.
“My ultimate sporting goal is to become an Olympic champion in archery and my aim is
set for 2024 Paris Olympics, at this time I will be at my peak age.
“My sporting heroes are Taylor Worth and Brady Ellison who are both excellent archers and I aspire to one day be shooting at the performance level as these archers.
“And I couldn’t have done this without my mum, dad and coach.”
“As I shoot each arrow, I would get more and more relaxed .... I realise how beautiful my life truly is.
“Archery is my happy place.
IN OTHER NEWS
“I begin these sessions depressed and leave them remarkably happy.”
Local Sports Stars is proudly sponsored by Featherdale Wildlife Park and Bankstown Sports.
LSS categories include Inspiration, Team of Excellence and Service to Sport.
■ Nominate now at localsportsstars.com.au/newslocal
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