Welcome to the grinder.
Hopefully you've already deduced from the sub-header that my main goal is to make the 2014 Winter Olympics in sunny Sochi, Russia. Yes, laugh while you can and get itout of your system because school has just begun.
What do I need to do to be able to become a biathlete, let alone an Olympic biathlete:
1) Learn how to cross-country ski - tried it one about seven years ago and had an absolute blast.
2) Shoot a rifle - again I've only done this once but we were spotlight hunting possums (they are a pest in New Zealand) in pitch black and shot it with my first and only shot about 70m away up high in a tree...not bad!
3) Get insanely fit - I used to play State basketball and am fine with the idea of training several times a week if not everyday but this is a whole new level.
4) Hire a coach - I can't DIY everything
5) Get sponsorship - From Professoinal Bodies like IBU, the NZ Olympic committee, the Norweign Olympic committee (if they'd like!) to corporates like Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Puma, Fila, Asics, Canterbury, Champion Converse, Diadora, Speedo, Umbro (and others)...I'm listening!!!
6) Qualify
7) Compete
8) Medal - like Kevin Garnett "anything is possible".
Going on viewing experience I think I have the perfect sized body for the sport. I'm the exact same height as Emil Hegle Svendsen, the current #1 in the world at the moment, although I think I'm 2cm's taller - a marked victory already; and I have a big enough body to be confused for a Rugby player.
I'm going to write letters to all those who will support such a brave move but please confide in your my little internet buttercups that any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
