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10:40 GMT, Friday, 20 June 2008 11:40 UK

Williamson heads to fifth Games

Alison Williamson won bronze at the Athens Olympics

British archer Alison Williamson is going to her fifth Olympic Games after being named in the team for Beijing.

Williamson, who won bronze in Athens four years ago, is joined by Charlotte Burgess and Naomi Folkard in the women's team.

The trio won World Cup team gold in the Dominican Republic earlier in the year.

Alan Wills, who won a World Cup grand final bronze last year, will compete with Larry Godfrey and Simon Terry in the men's events.

Williamson may be a veteran in Olympic terms, but that has in no way lessened her desire for success in Beijing.

The 36-year-old said: "I am just as motivated now as I was when I went to my first Games in Barcelona in 1992.

"You might say that winning the bronze medal four years ago was as good as it gets, but I don't see it like that, I am the kind of person who always sets myself new targets and fresh challenges."

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There is a good mix of experienced archers and first-time Olympians in the team and Hilda Gibson, Team GB's archery team leader said: "I have no doubt that all six will be very competitive individually, and as teams, they will provide formidable opposition."

Folkard is going to her second Olympics, while for Burgess, it will be a new experience.

"I really did dream that one day I would go to the Olympics, and now I'm going," said the 21-year-old.

"It's wonderful. I took up archery as a 10 year old and coming through this selection process and clinching a place in Beijing is just so exciting."

For Wills the selection justifies his decision to give up a carpentry job to focus full-time on archery.

He said: "This is everything I've worked for, and all the sacrifices and hard work has now paid off. It's a fantastic feeling."

And for Terry, who won two bronze medals in the individual and team competitions in Barcelona, it is a welcome return to the sport he quit around 13 years ago.

"I'm absolutely delighted I've made it to Beijing," said Terry, 34.

"It's been a tough process, with a few ups - such as coming fourth at last year's World Championships, and a few downs, like a dip in form earlier this year, which started to cause concern."

Eight archers, four men and four women, went into the competition and with only six places up for grabs, Tom Barber and Emma Downie were the two to miss out.




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Related to this story:

Silver for GB's Folkard at Euros (17 May 08 |  Archery )
GB archers win World Cup medals (20 Apr 08 |  Archery )
GB archers win gold in Caribbean (06 Apr 08 |  Archery )
GB whittles down archery hopefuls (26 Mar 08 |  Archery )
Team GB for Beijing (29 Nov 07 |  Team GB )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Beijing 2008 - archery
Archery - from Wikipedia
'How to' guide to archery
Grand National Archery Society
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British Wheelchair Archery Association
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BBC Robin Hood Game
Archery on the BBC Olympics Blog
Olympic schedule from the BOA
Sport info from the BOA
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