OLYMPIC SOLIDARITYOLYMPIC REVIEW59What role has the Olympic Solidarity scholarship hadin your training and in your career development?I've recently been accepted for another quadrennialscholarship, which will definitely help me with myintense preparation towards the London 2012 OlympicGames. Soon after I got my first scholarship, I won asilver medal in double trap during the Games of theSmall States of Europe (GSSE) in San Marino in 2001.From then onwards, thanks to the Olympic Solidarityscholarships, I have continued to develop my techniqueand training programmes.Looking ahead to London 2012, what has been yourexperience of competing in England so far?England always offers different experiences at differentlevels and, as I hope to be able to qualify for the doubletrap final for London 2012, it helps that I canrecall that one of my greatest achievements was in England - at the 2002 Commonwealth Games inManchester, where I won my first CommonwealthGames bronze medal. I managed to repeat the feat in2006 in Melbourne.How did your career in clay shooting begin?I started when I was about 10 years old, first with mygrandfather - who had practised clay shooting at clublevel - and soon after with my father. Originally Istarted in trap but then, supported by Saviour Portelli,President of the Malta Shooting Sports Federation, andmy coach, Jimmy Bugeja, I opted for double trap. I've never regretted making this decision.How has your career developed in recent years?Following the silver medal at the GSSE in San Marinoin 2001, I won the gold medal in 2003 in Malta, in2005 in Andorra and in 2009 in Cyprus. During theJunior World Championships in Cyprus in 2004 I alsomanaged to break the junior world record with 146clays out of 150. This record was equalled recently but has not yet been beaten.What does it take to be a world-class double trap shooter?It's a matter of training, concentration, continuousparticipation and, of course, one must feel theconstant need to always go a step further. In 2008,during the World Championships, I managed to finishin sixth place. During the ISSF Shotgun World Cup inBeijing this year, I entered the final barrage with 141out of 150. Following this I managed to hit 44 clays,which meant I won my first gold medal in a WorldCup. Moreover, with this result I became the firstMaltese shooter to obtain a quota place for theOlympic Games.Your attention will soon be turning to London 2012.How important are these Games for your career?London 2012 will be my third Games. In 2004 inAthens, when I was also flag bearer of the Malteseteam, I finished in joint sixth place but then, followinga shoot-off, I ended up in ninth, missing out on aplace in the top six. Four years later in Beijing I wenta step further when, after finishing joint sixth again, I ended up in eighth place following a shoot-off. This was Malta's best ever result in any OlympicGames since its first participation at the 1928Olympic Games in Amsterdam. I will be lookingforward to London 2012 with the aim of doing betterthan I did in Athens and Beijing.INTERVIEWWILLIAMCHETCUTIAFTER NARROWLY MISSING OUT ON THE TOP SIX PLACES IN ATHENS IN 2004 AND BEIJING IN 2008,26-YEAR-OLD MALTESE DOUBLE TRAP SHOOTER WILLIAM CHETCUTI IS HOPING HIS OLYMPICSOLIDARITY SCHOLARSHIP WILL HELP HIM ACHIEVE A PLACE ON THE PODIUM IN LONDON IN 2012,HAVING RECENTLY WON GOLD AT THE 2011 ISSF SHOTGUN WORLD CUP IN BEIJINGMAKINGTHECUTOLYMPIC REVIEWCATCHES UP WITH THREE OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY SCHOLARSHIPHOLDERS AS THEY TARGET LONDON 2012

and the other is Cambodian. I have some sparringpartners as well and we train together every day.What does your training programme consist of?My training has been very intensive lately. We traintwice a day, every day, and it consists of a variety ofdisciplines, including weightlifting, cross-countryrunning, defence and attack techniques, flexibility andstretching, strength work, upper body work andshadow boxing.What are your targets for London 2012?I am really looking forward to London 2012, but to getthere I have to qualify first, so my only target currentlyis to make sure I make the cut and am able to go to London next year!Who were your Olympic heroes when you were younger? Oscar De La Hoya is one of my favourites. I was still asmall boy when he went to the 1992 Olympic Gamesin Barcelona but I have seen many of his fights onvideo and I really like him. Another hero for me isManny Pacquiao. I love watching his fights and seehim as my role model.60OLYMPIC REVIEWOLYMPIC SOLIDARITYHow and when did you start boxing and whichcategory do you compete in?I compete in the 60kg category. I started boxing in2004 because of my love for the sport but also toprotect myself. Through boxing, I am also able to stayhealthy as I train regularly to keep fit.What skills does a boxer need to possess?There are many skills a boxer needs. However, I thinkthe most important is the ability to control yourbreathing. You also need to be able to drop your weightwhen blocking and keep your eyes on the opponent.How has the Olympic Solidarity Programme helped you?The Olympic Solidarity scholarship has helped meprepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games in manyways. I am motivated to train harder and, with the extra training I have been doing since March 2011, I have also improved my strength. Also, my mentaltraining has helped me to focus more on the taskahead, and I have gained more confidence in myself.Who do you train with?I train with my two coaches - one of them is from CubaINTERVIEWSOPHAT PHALTHE CAMBODIAN BOXER RECEIVED A HUGE BOOST WHEN HE WAS CHOSEN TORECEIVE AN OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY SCHOLARSHIP, WHICH HE HOPES WILL PROPELHIM THROUGH QUALIFICATION FOR THE 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES IN LONDON