my journey to the Rio Olympics my journey consists of 14 years of archery
journey consists of 14 years of archery
journey consists of 14 years of archery basically but there’s of course a lot
basically but there’s of course a lot
basically but there’s of course a lot more to the story and I’d like to share
more to the story and I’d like to share
more to the story and I’d like to share that with you I was very shy during my
that with you I was very shy during my
that with you I was very shy during my primary school years I don’t know if you
primary school years I don’t know if you
primary school years I don’t know if you can see me there but when I went to high
can see me there but when I went to high
can see me there but when I went to high school I embraced the side of me that it
school I embraced the side of me that it
school I embraced the side of me that it only wanted to play sports you would
only wanted to play sports you would
only wanted to play sports you would rather play sports then attend class you
rather play sports then attend class you
rather play sports then attend class you would rather play sports then literally
would rather play sports then literally
would rather play sports then literally do anything else throughout high school
do anything else throughout high school
do anything else throughout high school University and to this day these are
University and to this day these are
University and to this day these are some of the sports I I took part in I as
some of the sports I I took part in I as
some of the sports I I took part in I as much as I played them passionately and
much as I played them passionately and
much as I played them passionately and all heartedly I never took any of them
all heartedly I never took any of them
all heartedly I never took any of them as far as I did archery perseverance is
as far as I did archery perseverance is
as far as I did archery perseverance is probably one of the biggest things that
probably one of the biggest things that
probably one of the biggest things that sports taught me despite being a
sports taught me despite being a
sports taught me despite being a top-three finish in most of the events i
top-three finish in most of the events i
top-three finish in most of the events i took part in it took six years of
took part in it took six years of
took part in it took six years of constant participation and winning
constant participation and winning
constant participation and winning before i was awarded Best Female Athlete
before i was awarded Best Female Athlete
before i was awarded Best Female Athlete and sportswoman of the earth these were
and sportswoman of the earth these were
and sportswoman of the earth these were very important to me at the time though
very important to me at the time though
very important to me at the time though they might seem smoking out growing up I
they might seem smoking out growing up I
they might seem smoking out growing up I found that girls and boys which feed it
found that girls and boys which feed it
found that girls and boys which feed it very differently stereotypically a girl
very differently stereotypically a girl
very differently stereotypically a girl is
is
is to stay at home love pink play with
to stay at home love pink play with
to stay at home love pink play with dolls you know cook clean I’m sure you
dolls you know cook clean I’m sure you
dolls you know cook clean I’m sure you get the point but these didn’t agree
get the point but these didn’t agree
get the point but these didn’t agree with me so it made me two things one a
with me so it made me two things one a
with me so it made me two things one a tomboy and to a feminist one of my first
tomboy and to a feminist one of my first
tomboy and to a feminist one of my first local archery competitions in Kenya I at
local archery competitions in Kenya I at
local archery competitions in Kenya I at the time archery was it was still a
the time archery was it was still a
the time archery was it was still a hobby to me it wasn’t even a sport yet
hobby to me it wasn’t even a sport yet
hobby to me it wasn’t even a sport yet so I went into this competition
so I went into this competition
so I went into this competition oblivious a week later there was an
oblivious a week later there was an
oblivious a week later there was an article in the newspaper it stated that
article in the newspaper it stated that
article in the newspaper it stated that my scores had eclipsed all those in the
my scores had eclipsed all those in the
my scores had eclipsed all those in the men’s category now I didn’t consciously
men’s category now I didn’t consciously
men’s category now I didn’t consciously know it at the time but I was such a
know it at the time but I was such a
know it at the time but I was such a strong believer of the power of the
strong believer of the power of the
strong believer of the power of the women that I was immediately bound to
women that I was immediately bound to
women that I was immediately bound to archery by this little achievement it
archery by this little achievement it
archery by this little achievement it sparked my passion this is the list of
sparked my passion this is the list of
sparked my passion this is the list of competition that I’ve been for my first
competition that I’ve been for my first
competition that I’ve been for my first international competition was in Germany
international competition was in Germany
international competition was in Germany 2005 the world games competitions for me
2005 the world games competitions for me
2005 the world games competitions for me became a platform of exposure away from
became a platform of exposure away from
became a platform of exposure away from normal everyday life this exposure in
normal everyday life this exposure in
normal everyday life this exposure in encourages personal growth very
encourages personal growth very
encourages personal growth very important for child growing up you meet
important for child growing up you meet
important for child growing up you meet so many people from different
so many people from different
so many people from different backgrounds and cultures and walks of
backgrounds and cultures and walks of
backgrounds and cultures and walks of life that they influence you in all the
life that they influence you in all the
life that they influence you in all the ways the best way is possible
ways the best way is possible
ways the best way is possible technically speaking you travel you get
technically speaking you travel you get
technically speaking you travel you get to see the world it’s adventure these
to see the world it’s adventure these
to see the world it’s adventure these are things that I believe all people
are things that I believe all people
are things that I believe all people kids especially should go through my
kids especially should go through my
kids especially should go through my dream since the first African archery
dream since the first African archery
dream since the first African archery championship in 2008 was to make it to
championship in 2008 was to make it to
championship in 2008 was to make it to the Olympics eight years down the line
the Olympics eight years down the line
the Olympics eight years down the line this dream came true at the eleventh
this dream came true at the eleventh
this dream came true at the eleventh African archery championship I won
African archery championship I won
African archery championship I won amazing right not entirely the six
amazing right not entirely the six
amazing right not entirely the six months between the time I qualified and
months between the time I qualified and
months between the time I qualified and the olympic games themselves actually
the olympic games themselves actually
the olympic games themselves actually became some of the worst and most
became some of the worst and most
became some of the worst and most difficult of my life winning the
difficult of my life winning the
difficult of my life winning the championship God Kenya the slot to the
championship God Kenya the slot to the
championship God Kenya the slot to the Olympics fine the actually wasn’t
Olympics fine the actually wasn’t
Olympics fine the actually wasn’t mine i won but the slot wasn’t mine it
mine i won but the slot wasn’t mine it
mine i won but the slot wasn’t mine it would be given to anybody who qualified
would be given to anybody who qualified
would be given to anybody who qualified further because we need two things I
further because we need two things I
further because we need two things I needed to hit a minimum qualifying score
needed to hit a minimum qualifying score
needed to hit a minimum qualifying score and I needed to be funded alright the
and I needed to be funded alright the
and I needed to be funded alright the first as much as it’s very important the
first as much as it’s very important the
first as much as it’s very important the second is technically all I needed let
second is technically all I needed let
second is technically all I needed let me take you back just a little
me take you back just a little
me take you back just a little [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] all right this is okay that’s different
all right this is okay that’s different
all right this is okay that’s different something missing I gotta thank you back
something missing I gotta thank you back
something missing I gotta thank you back just a little the first time I was ever
just a little the first time I was ever
just a little the first time I was ever supported by the relevant sporting
supported by the relevant sporting
supported by the relevant sporting authorities in Kenya was actually for
authorities in Kenya was actually for
authorities in Kenya was actually for the Commonwealth Games in 2010 India all
the Commonwealth Games in 2010 India all
the Commonwealth Games in 2010 India all right the second time I was supported
right the second time I was supported
right the second time I was supported was for the 9th African archery
was for the 9th African archery
was for the 9th African archery championship in 2012 morocco the third
championship in 2012 morocco the third
championship in 2012 morocco the third time i was supported was for the 66
time i was supported was for the 66
time i was supported was for the 66 South African Nationals in 2016 the
South African Nationals in 2016 the
South African Nationals in 2016 the fourth time for the Olympic Games I will
fourth time for the Olympic Games I will
fourth time for the Olympic Games I will actually take you back this slide is
actually take you back this slide is
actually take you back this slide is supposed to be down there you can see
supposed to be down there you can see
supposed to be down there you can see all the competitions I’ve been for I
all the competitions I’ve been for I
all the competitions I’ve been for I mentioned only for that I was supported
mentioned only for that I was supported
mentioned only for that I was supported for small for equipment is unfortunately
for small for equipment is unfortunately
for small for equipment is unfortunately not easy to come by it’s it’s not cheap
not easy to come by it’s it’s not cheap
not easy to come by it’s it’s not cheap for my third and most valuable bow which
for my third and most valuable bow which
for my third and most valuable bow which will actually be the blue one in the
will actually be the blue one in the
will actually be the blue one in the picture with the blue and the purple I
picture with the blue and the purple I
picture with the blue and the purple I saved for two years I worked part-time
saved for two years I worked part-time
saved for two years I worked part-time in human resources and I taught archery
in human resources and I taught archery
in human resources and I taught archery as an extracurricular in schools and the
as an extracurricular in schools and the
as an extracurricular in schools and the rest of the part time I spent training
rest of the part time I spent training
rest of the part time I spent training because i needed that stability the rest
because i needed that stability the rest
because i needed that stability the rest of the time yeah i did i put it into
of the time yeah i did i put it into
of the time yeah i did i put it into training so it was this bowl i named her
training so it was this bowl i named her
training so it was this bowl i named her Roxy geez I don’t know she’s like my
Roxy geez I don’t know she’s like my
Roxy geez I don’t know she’s like my baby it was with her that I won the
baby it was with her that I won the
baby it was with her that I won the championship and the slot for Kenya the
championship and the slot for Kenya the
championship and the slot for Kenya the rest of my savings during that time that
rest of my savings during that time that
rest of my savings during that time that had collected I actually spent getting
had collected I actually spent getting
had collected I actually spent getting to the championship itself alright so
to the championship itself alright so
to the championship itself alright so now I didn’t have the resources to get
now I didn’t have the resources to get
now I didn’t have the resources to get to my next my next steps as you can see
to my next my next steps as you can see
to my next my next steps as you can see here but one word
this is what saved me believe it or not
this is what saved me believe it or not after improvisation on what I needed to
after improvisation on what I needed to
after improvisation on what I needed to attend and how long I would attend for
attend and how long I would attend for
attend and how long I would attend for for example I needed to be in a training
for example I needed to be in a training
for example I needed to be in a training camp for three months at least in order
camp for three months at least in order
camp for three months at least in order to keep up with the the people on the
to keep up with the the people on the
to keep up with the the people on the top of their game I could only make it
top of their game I could only make it
top of their game I could only make it for one month all right my parents were
for one month all right my parents were
for one month all right my parents were my biggest support they were the biggest
my biggest support they were the biggest
my biggest support they were the biggest form of humanity I had they took me as
form of humanity I had they took me as
form of humanity I had they took me as far as they could the rest of the
far as they could the rest of the
far as they could the rest of the support actually came from friends
support actually came from friends
support actually came from friends family the rest of my family well wishes
family the rest of my family well wishes
family the rest of my family well wishes people who didn’t know me apart from the
people who didn’t know me apart from the
people who didn’t know me apart from the achievements I could put down on paper
achievements I could put down on paper
achievements I could put down on paper actually got me through not that I think
actually got me through not that I think
actually got me through not that I think is really amazing now we’re still here
is really amazing now we’re still here
is really amazing now we’re still here actually the second biggest challenge I
actually the second biggest challenge I
actually the second biggest challenge I had was psychological and emotional the
had was psychological and emotional the
had was psychological and emotional the pressure of the whole Olympics thing it
pressure of the whole Olympics thing it
pressure of the whole Olympics thing it it actually weighed me down my dream
it actually weighed me down my dream
it actually weighed me down my dream come true turned into what I started to
come true turned into what I started to
come true turned into what I started to call a nightmare so many times i
call a nightmare so many times i
call a nightmare so many times i actually just wanted to put my bow down
actually just wanted to put my bow down
actually just wanted to put my bow down and walk away because i was fighting
and walk away because i was fighting
and walk away because i was fighting with myself as to whether the way I felt
with myself as to whether the way I felt
with myself as to whether the way I felt was really worth the person I was
was really worth the person I was
was really worth the person I was becoming what I was going through with
becoming what I was going through with
becoming what I was going through with so many people watching me now and
so many people watching me now and
so many people watching me now and expecting me to perform I was scared of
expecting me to perform I was scared of
expecting me to perform I was scared of letting them down and I was scared of
letting them down and I was scared of
letting them down and I was scared of letting myself down for so many years
letting myself down for so many years
letting myself down for so many years archery had actually been my escape from
archery had actually been my escape from
archery had actually been my escape from the rest of reality but now in those six
the rest of reality but now in those six
the rest of reality but now in those six months I was trying to get away from it
months I was trying to get away from it
months I was trying to get away from it but again the universe has a twist and
but again the universe has a twist and
but again the universe has a twist and it strategically placed the most
it strategically placed the most
it strategically placed the most beautiful people into my life these
beautiful people into my life these
beautiful people into my life these people provided for me you can’t really
people provided for me you can’t really
people provided for me you can’t really see them but I try to fit a lot of
see them but I try to fit a lot of
see them but I try to fit a lot of people in my life into these photos so
people in my life into these photos so
people in my life into these photos so they provided for me they reminded me
they provided for me they reminded me
they provided for me they reminded me that there’s beauty in all the things
that there’s beauty in all the things
that there’s beauty in all the things that we take for granted they reminded
that we take for granted they reminded
that we take for granted they reminded me of my strength theorem
me of my strength theorem
me of my strength theorem perseverance something I’d forgotten
perseverance something I’d forgotten
perseverance something I’d forgotten they reminded me that there’s good
they reminded me that there’s good
they reminded me that there’s good things in even the baddest of moments in
things in even the baddest of moments in
things in even the baddest of moments in the worst of times and the next thing I
the worst of times and the next thing I
the worst of times and the next thing I knew I was at the Olympics one of the
knew I was at the Olympics one of the
knew I was at the Olympics one of the biggest sporting events in the world
biggest sporting events in the world
biggest sporting events in the world there’s some pictures in there too i
there’s some pictures in there too i
there’s some pictures in there too i believe it was it was just a vast world
believe it was it was just a vast world
believe it was it was just a vast world of sports and and for me love it was it
of sports and and for me love it was it
of sports and and for me love it was it was everything I’d actually dreamed of
was everything I’d actually dreamed of
was everything I’d actually dreamed of in the beginning and so much more most
in the beginning and so much more most
in the beginning and so much more most importantly is we had made it I was
importantly is we had made it I was
importantly is we had made it I was there yes but I didn’t make it alone so
there yes but I didn’t make it alone so
there yes but I didn’t make it alone so we had made it and I believe that all of
we had made it and I believe that all of
we had made it and I believe that all of us can make it to not necessarily to the
us can make it to not necessarily to the
us can make it to not necessarily to the Olympics eat because it’s about our
Olympics eat because it’s about our
Olympics eat because it’s about our passion no matter what our passion is
passion no matter what our passion is
passion no matter what our passion is for no matter where we wanted to take us
for no matter where we wanted to take us
for no matter where we wanted to take us no matter how big no matter how small
no matter how big no matter how small
no matter how big no matter how small doesn’t matter a comfort zone is a
doesn’t matter a comfort zone is a
doesn’t matter a comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever goes
beautiful place but nothing ever goes
beautiful place but nothing ever goes there and I think I’ve been through my
there and I think I’ve been through my
there and I think I’ve been through my discomfort zone so I agree with whoever
discomfort zone so I agree with whoever
discomfort zone so I agree with whoever wrote this court thank you
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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