In the final installment of Tracy Otto’s article series, she discusses the different ways she improves her form, which includes playing a game to make practice fun. She also shares how she’s preparing physically and mentally for the Games, and what she’s looking forward to seeing in Paris and the Games. She’s very excited for the whole thing! Check out how she sets her sights on gold, below.
A360: How do you improve your form?
TO: I like to go through a checklist in my head. I really break down my process as far as it can go. It’s different for everyone. I take that checklist and I really just fine tune things step by step. I have fun with it. I play a game. I try to beat myself every round or every shot. Say I shoot a shot and it was in the 9, but kind of to the right. How can I make that better? Or, “What did I do last time?” to try and make it again if it hit a 10. I just play that back-and-forth game trying to beat myself. I listen to my coach. I listen to what he’s saying and what he’s emphasizing, especially my follow through. I struggle with my follow through. I pay super close attention and try really hard to focus.
A360: How would you say you’re preparing mentally as well as physically for the Games?
TO: I’ve been trying to exercise more because I’ve always been one that really likes to go to the gym and then I feel like it’s really good for my mental health. I try to meditate every morning. I try to go through my process if I can’t sleep at night, I’ll think about my process until I fall asleep. I talked to a psychiatrist and a psychologist, the sports psychologist and psychiatrist, and that’s super helpful because I went through a lot of trauma. So that can mess with things, right? So I’ve just been working on a lot of things with them and just making sure that everything is in check.
A360: What are you most excited to see in Paris or at the Games?
TO: I haven’t done much research, so I haven’t been really looking at everything. I want to keep it a surprise. So, I’m not really sure. I’m just excited to go. I’m just excited to be there and see everything. I just can’t believe it. We were going through pictures earlier today of when I first started, when I first got out of rehab, and what that looked like. I inspired myself and that was a really cool feeling. I’ve never felt that with myself before, because everybody struggles with mental health issues or self-doubt or imposter syndrome or anything along the line of self-doubt. I inspired myself and it was a really cool, awesome moment.
Seeing all these things that we’ve done and thinking about the Paralympics, it’s just like, “Holy crap, we’re going!” It just doesn’t feel real. I feel, not like I don’t deserve it, but it came natural to me. It was just me being me and doing what I love to do. And that’s, I think, the coolest part of it: I found something that I enjoyed just being me. So, I’m really excited.
Stay Tuned
We’re excited to see Tracy Otto and the rest of Team USA go for gold at the Paralympics starting Aug. 29. Tune in to NBC and their affiliate channels, keep an eye on World Archery and USA Archery’s social media, and sign up for their Archery+ streaming service for access to all the action on the Big Stage this summer.
Watch Tracy Otto and the rest of Team USA go for gold at the Paralympics starting Aug. 29.
Missed Part 2? Check it out: here.
