Mathew Masonwells (born 26 June 1986) is an archer from Australia. Originally from Queensland, he has moved to the Australian Capital Territory. He started in archery when he was thirteen years old. He had a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport. He was named to the Australian archery shadow Olympic team for the 2012 Summer Olympics and participated in team training camps.

Mathew Masonwells
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
Born26 June 1986 (1986-06-26) (age 37)
Alexandra Hills, Queensland
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportArchery
EventMen's recurve
Medal record
Archery
Representing  Australia
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Delhi Men's Team

Personal edit

Masonwells is from Alexandra Hills, Queensland.[1][2][3][4] He moved to the Australian Capital Territory[1][2] to live closer to Karina Wallace-Bourne, his girlfriend who is a teacher.[2] In Brisbane, he finished a course as an apprentice carpenter.[2] His parents are proud of his archery accomplishments.[2]

Archery edit

Masonwells started in the sport he was thirteen years old, "when his father made him a timber bow to take to a medieval fair and he couldn't resist continuing to use it at his grandparents' farm."[1][2] Between shooting rounds, he likes to listen to the Australian band, Hilltop Hoods.[1][2][5]

In 2002, he was part of the Australian team that competed at the World Junior Championships in the cadet male recurve event.[6][7] In October 2009, Masonwells finished third at the Melbourne hosted Australian Open.[2] At the invitation only competition, he was scouted by Simon Fairweather of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Fairweather offered him a part-time scholarship at AIS which he accepted.[2] He earned a full-time scholarship in March 2010.[2]

As a twenty-four-year-old,[8][9] he represented Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.[10][11][12] He competed in the men's recurve archery team event where he took home a gold medal with a team score of 219, defeating Malaysia who were ranked third in the world at the time and had an event score of 212.[10][11][12][13] He also competed in the individual event on the final day of the competition. In the quarter-finals, he went up against Indian Rahul Banerjee.[8] At the Games, he was coached by Simon Fairweather.[9]

In September 2011, Masonwells was named to the Australian archery shadow Olympic team.[14] He attended a national team training camp in Canberra in September 2011 and March 2012.[14] At the 2012 National Target Archery Championships, he finished fifth as a member of SQAS.[15] In March at the 2012 Olympic Games Nomination Shoot Results, he finished fifth with a score of 2571.[16] In May 2012, he participated in a training camp in Buderim.[17][18] He was invited to the camp because Sky Kim had other commitments and could not make it. As of May 2012, he had not qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics. To make the Games, he needed to qualify at the World Cup event in Ogden, Utah.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Mathew Masonwells listens to his favourite music to 'zone out' during competition". Sydney, Australia: The Australian. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kerr, Judith (9 September 2010). "Mathew on target for Games". Bayside Bulletin. Retrieved 6 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "New, old archers bound for Delhi – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  4. ^ Judith Kerr (11 October 2010). "Redland athletes will bring home nine gold – Local News – News – General – Bayside Bulletin / The Redland Times". Baysidebulletin.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Archer Masonwells makes the most of rap". News.smh.com.au. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  6. ^ Larven, Jim (June 2002). "News from the CEO's Desk". Australian Archer. 8. Panania, New South Wales: Australian Archery: 5. Print Post Publication no. PP636447/001.
  7. ^ Rowson, David (December 2001). "Archery Australia Inc. National Ranking Lists @ 1.12.01". Australian Archer. 6. Panania, New South Wales: Australian Archery: 28. Print Post Publication no. PP636447/001.
  8. ^ a b "Archers aim to end Games on a high". Melbourne, Victoria: The Age. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Elder statesman leads team to gold". Melbourne, Victoria: The Age. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Australia wins archery gold". Melbourne, Victoria: The Age. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  11. ^ a b "How the Aussies fared on Oct 8". Melbourne, Victoria: The Age. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Golden Aussies back archery's future – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  13. ^ "Aussie archers stun Malaysians for gold – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  14. ^ a b Warhurst, Lucy (5 September 2011). "Archery Australia High Performance Program Update". Archery Australia. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  15. ^ "2012 National Target Archery Championships" (PDF). Tuggeranong, Australian Capital Territory: Archery Australia. March 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Archery Australia". Archery.org.au. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  17. ^ a b Mark Bode (22 May 2012). "Confident Tyack set for Olympics | Shooting". Fraser Coast Chronicle. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  18. ^ "Tyack targets Olympic Games spot | Sunshine Coast Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Sunshine Coast". Sunshine Coast Daily. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.

External links edit