By Nick Creely
Berwick sport shooter and Rio Olympian Laetisha Scanlan is ambitious and desperate to represent her country.
The 27-year-old, who was part of the Rio Olympics in 2016, is eyeing off more national honours with Australia with the Commonwealth Games coming to the Gold Coast in 2018 and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
“Our team will be announced at the end of December (for the Commonwealth Games) – I’ve had some really solid scores over the past four competitions, so I’m quietly confident of getting selected,” she said.
“I haven’t achieved everything I’ve wanted to, and that’s probably why I’ve stayed in so long, but it’s really exciting to have a home Commonwealth Games, and I’m looking forward to hopefully Tokyo 2020 as well.”
Stemming from childhood, Laetisha has always been a passionate advocate for the sport, which requires the utmost accuracy and precision.
“It’s a very difficult sport to be professional in Australia – most people do it for the love of it, so it’s definitely a passion I’ve had over the past ten years,” she said.
“It probably stems from my father – he got me out to the range at a young age, and it started out as a bonding thing for us, and it just went on from there.”
With shooting still a relatively under-resourced sport, Laetisha said the demands can be challenging in various ways, but believes she has the right mind frame to succeed.
“I missed out on the London 2012 games, and focused really hard on making the Rio team – at the end of the day you have to make a decision about making a life and having a sporting career, it’s hard to juggle,” she said.
“Talent can get you so far, and I’ve seen a lot of talented people, but if you don’t have that commitment, I don’t think you’ll achieve your true potential.”
She said the experience of making the Rio team is something she will never forget, and hopes that her success there will ensure she is better prepared to achieve her dream of winning a gold medal for Australia in the future.
“It was amazing (the Olympics), and to achieve your goal of making the team was great – I was lucky enough to make the final, and unfortunately didn’t do as well as I hoped and came fifth, but it was a great learning lesson, and put me in good stead for the future,” she said.
