LEAMINGTON’s Naomi Folkard says she will cherish her best ever finish at an Olympic Games after finishing inside the top eight in Rio this week in what is likely to be her ever archery event.
The 32-year-old was taking part in her fourth Olympic Games and made a positive start this time around when the archery event got underway on Tuesday.
Folkard narrowly got the better of Indonesia’s Ika Rochmawati 6-5 before easing past London 2012 bronze medallist Kaori Kawanka 6-0 to book a place in last 16.
Her journey towards a first Olympic medal continued after she beat home favourite Ane Marcelle Gomes Dos Santos on Thursday to progress into quarter-finals, taking place that evening.
But in the final eight she came across Hyejin Chang of Korea at the iconic Sambadrome arena and despite losing 7-1, Folkard can take pride in her performance as she begins to think of life outside the range.
She said: “To finish top eight in the Olympic Games is something I couldn’t have dreamt of a few months ago.
“I’m not planning on continuing. I’ve been a full-time archer for 11 years and I need a life. I want to get into coaching.
“I will always be involved in the sport. You never know they might persuade me to come back but I need at least one year out. I’m 32 and I don’t have a pension and really I need to get a job.”
