He won us over with his tenacity, prowess and ambition to make archery his lifetime challenge.
Katsaitis is from Corinth, Greece, currently living in Athens, and this year he became member of our International Sponsored Archers Team. He won us over with his tenacity, prowess and ambition to make archery his lifetime challenge. Not an understatement if one realises that, at 22, he has been shooting already for half of his life. But what’s his secret?
TASH: How do you feel when you are shooting?
K.P.: It is a very weird feeling. Sometimes I feel like my head is empty, sometimes I feel like I can’t stop thinking about a thing. However, every time the bow leaves my hand I feel like something big is completed and that’s what makes me want to shoot again and again. I don’t think there is a better feeling.
TASH: You took the first place at the Greece National Indoor Championship – February 17th and 18th, by hitting the 10 in the shoot off and you became national indoor champion. Is this your greatest achievement in archery? Could you tell us more, please?
K.P.: This is actually my greatest achievement in indoor competitions, because I haven’t been in the first place by now. However, I have taken multiple first places in national youth outdoor championships and cups, and I have participated in international outdoor competitions, which I think is my greatest achievement in archery
“I would love to represent my country in an international event and do the best I can”
TASH: What motivates you to achieve performances?
K.P.: I love archery and this is what I want to do (hopefully) for the rest of my life. That’s why I’m trying to do the best I can in every competition and overcome every difficulty.
TASH: What was your funniest experience in archery?
K.P.: The funniest experience that now comes in mind is a sad story about a national youth outdoor championship, a few years ago. I was in the finals and the score was 4-4. I shot a 10 and the people behind me were like “yeah”. I shot another 10 and the people behind me started celebrating because my opponent had a 9 and an 8. And then I got nervous and shot a 1 haha… It was something that my co-athletes and I still make fun of, but it taught me many lessons.
TASH: Who is your sport hero? Why does she or he inspire you?
K.P.: My sport hero is my coach and co-athlete, Constantine Yantsios. I admire him so much. He has been confronted with many obstacles in his career but he still loves archery and does the best he can to help archery grow in Greece. He never gave up on me, even when things seemed really bad, and I owe him everything I achieved.
TASH: How does a normal day of training look like?
K.P.: I start warming up, both with a warm-up band and without it. Then I simulate my shooting with the band. After that, I start shooting at 5m without face. It usually takes 30-40 arrows to say that I am sure of my feeling. Then I start shooting either 18m or 70m (depending on the season). I always end up shooting the last 30 arrows at 5m without face. At this time I shoot a total of 170-190 arrows.
TASH: What’s your next goal?
K.P.: I would love to win both the outdoor championship and the outdoor cup, because I haven’t won all 3 “major” national events the same year. Besides, I would love to represent my country in an international event and do the best I can.
We wish him good luck.
Costinela Caraene
TASH team