By Tanisha Agrawal, Co-Sports Editor
In a sport that typically demands years of dedication and practice, senior Jimmy Zhao has proven himself a rising star in archery by competing in the prestigious Archery Olympic Trials held in early September.
Since he shot his first arrow five years ago, Zhao has been guided by David Lee, a certified Archery National Training coach, to exponentially grow and secure a spot in the Olympic trials.
“He is young for the Olympic competition stage, but he does show this promise. Normally, archers need eight to 10 years of training before reaching the Olympic stage, but he’s already there in just five years,” Lee said.
Earning a spot in the Olympic trials requires a ranking in one’s home state, winning out-of-state competitions, participating in national tournaments and gaining international experience. Zhao fulfilled these criteria by winning the 2023 Pennsylvania State Championship, competing in Massachusetts and even in France.
Archery is renowned as a sport that relies heavily on mental focus as well as physical prowess. Zhao’s daily routine includes two hours of shooting practice, morning workouts, jogs and a diet rich in protein. However, to maintain mental stability while competing, Zhao also simulates competition scenarios during practice.
“To mentally prepare yourself for a competition, the most important thing is to practice and rehearse it a lot of times beforehand,” Zhao said. “So you should try to replicate exactly how the competition is going to play out.”
Straddling between academics and archery required extensive time management, but Zhao’s discipline has rewarded him.
“He is very, very dedicated to it. His determination really moves me. He is willing to spend the time and put the effort into it. That’s why he can do this within a five-years time frame,” Lee said.
Zhao attributes his success to his support system, including his family, who covered the costs of his archery journey, and Lee, who patiently guided him throughout his training. He has now started working a part-time job at the Upper Main Line YMCA as the lead instructor for the Youth Archery Program to raise money for archery equipment.
Zhao is also keen on teaching archery. Senior Tony Tong and Zhao founded Conestoga’s Archery Club in October 2021, which now has 30 members. Zhao’s accomplishments inspired the team as they gear up to start competing more. Tong, who practices with Zhao and has been a longtime friend, expressed immense pride.
“For Jimmy’s journey into the Olympic trials, I have just the most proud and happy feelings. He has worked so hard for this; he 100% deserves it. We have been inspired, just completely inspired, by his performance,” Tong said. “And if anything, he showed the school community that we archers are a force to be reckoned with.”
As Zhao prepares for college, he intends to continue pursuing his archery dreams. He has set his eyes on the 2028 Olympic Games and hopes to maintain the balance with his future education to achieve greater feats.
“I want to go to the 2028 Olympics. I also want to participate in other big archery tournaments, such as the Archery World Cup, and win some medals,” Zhao said. “However, I also have college to focus on for my future career.”
Tanisha Agrawal can be reached at [email protected].
