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Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2013.55.58 B |
Object Name |
Video Recording |
Title |
Linda Thom Interview |
Scope & Content |
Linda Thom interview, 25 October 2006. Digitized MP4 from Sony 40 Advanced ME DVCAM. Three videos with a total viewing time of 01:39:20 1 of 3: 00:01Childhood: lived on acreage with a sand pit, father was competition shooter, set up a range and taught her and her brother to shoot a BB gun, taught them safety, started at age 8, at first hit a tin can for a target (called it plinking), (02:59) the basis for sport is enjoyment, everything else follows from that - physical exercise, develop physically and mentally; father supervised them until sure they were responsible; 26 shots in a tube, she got the final 6 so she learned to accurate O5:34Was shooting unusual for a young girl: not unusual, parents came from England where Dad had been a shooter, not as many women in the sport and the guys helped her; (06:15) "when you stand on top of a podium at the Olympic Games, you stand on top of a pyramid of people who have helped you. You don't get there alone" 06:44Did you play other sports: interested in other sports, lived in a rural area so very active, played volleyball, soccer and basketball with the one ball; did some girlie things, strongly believes that there should not be stereotypes for women or men, good to step out of the stereotypes and do what you want to do 10:17When did it become a serious pursuit: had asked for guns at age 4, started shooting at age 8, enjoyed it as a pastime, also enjoyed track & field and was good at the high jump, wanted to go to the Olympics in this event (12:12) "I promised myself when I was 8 years old that if I was ever good enough, I would train as hard as I could to get on a Canadian Olympic Team. And, of course, you dream of a Gold medal - why not, that is what you want."; wasn't sure about the medal so the goal became making the team, get to that point and knew how to set goals 14:40Family moved to Ottawa, found there was a shooting club in the city and joined it in her late teens, started as a rifle shooter and really enjoyed the sport, not interested in competing, later introduced to pistol shooting and did both, won some club trophies, encouraged by other shooters, she did not have much confidence at that point but the guys were interested in seeing her get ahead, started going to competitions within driving distance of Ottawa 19:43Did have only 6 BB shots contribute to your accuracy: talks about how her brother would sight for her, learned to adjust for wind and distance, made sure of her shots when it was her turn, later when they were older her father bought a 22 rifle and they shot at their camp, parents encouraged her to be a competitive shooter Shot at the 1973 American Confederation of Shooting championships and set a world record 26:30Switch from rifle to pistol: was saving money for a new rifle, instead bought a pistol and never switched back, from then on went ahead by leaps and bounds; there was a progressive change happening in Canada at that time, switching from NRA (American) style to international style, difference in styles, events, targets, format of shooting; few women shooting at that time, feels proud that after her Gold medal more women came into the sport 38:16When did you pick up the Olympic dream again: the World Championships were every 4 years, she was good at rapid fire and free pistol but these events not at the Olympics in the 1970's, realized if she wanted to go to the Olympics she would have to make the team which usually had only 2-4 shooters (allowed 2 per event) & would have to be really good to make the team 2 of 3: 00:01Elected to World Championship team in 1974 when one of the other shooters could not go, her father loaned her the money so she could go, shot 3 events and placed in top 10 in all of them, by placing she beat the men on the team; purchased air pistol in Phoenix at competition; with the introduction of international shooting got hooked on competitions, problem was going to Europe was expensive as they were self-funded at this time; Benito Juarez started an annual competition in Mexico City to give North Americans a senior level competition; he encouraged women to enter; needed this competition as the Worlds were only every four years, with the Pan American games as the only other filler, needed international competitions to improve, seeing that it was not the same competitor that would win every day gave confidence -realized you are just as good as they are; in 1974 was living in France and had to return for the Nationals to qualify for the team, talks about Aubrey Smith who was an American coach and told her it wasn't the style you were shooting that was important, what mattered was that physically you were delivering the shot 09:49Family: tried to get on the Olympic team for 1976 but did not make it, decided "to hang up my guns", her husband was a big supporter and financed her, this is the big gap when she stopped competing (1976 - 1982); was told in 1980 that women's pistol was going to be a medal event at the LA Olympics in 1984, (12:02) "I went back to when I was 8 years old, promising myself if I was ever good enough ...", talked with her husband who told her "If you don't do this you'll never forgive yourself for not trying"; felt guilty when away for long periods training or competing, her husband told her "Guilt is not productive", stop feeling guilty and starting winning medals 14:14Physical training: 1980 started saving money, coaches were available, discussed situation with her children's teachers & sport psychologist who told her the important thing was for her to come back home after the competition; in 1981 had to get permits, started shooting again, coach suggested she change pistols, she trusted him and did; 1982 with 2 ½ years to go decided to empty her mind, to 'forget' what she knew and listen to her coaches, had faith in them, learned a positive attitude, self confidence growing as things began working out from what her coaches were telling here; went a team clinic and felt that she didn't fit, experienced loss of confidence, when someone asked her why she came back she replied "I came back to win a Gold medal at the Olympic Games.", the team was very supportive, slowly increased mental and physical preparation, stopped working for 6 months prior to the games so could concentrate; friend told her to enjoy the journey, it's not the end result 24:34Learned how to set reasonable, achievable, obtainable goals. If you set reasonable goals that you can attain, as you attain them then you are rewarded. If you don't attain them, then that goal doesn't go up. You stay here until you achieve that goal. 25:49Learned why a positive attitude is so important. That is one of the biggest life lessons that you learn. 26:20Opening Ceremonies 1984: fabulous, arrived 9 days early to know the range and the routine, had option to opt out of the Opening Ceremonies since competing the next day but was not going to forgo it; talks about the ceremony, then march out and get down to business 28:50When did you know you were going to win a Gold medal: 2 months prior had decided she had an excellent chance of winning, very careful not to say that as it was tempting fate; talks about her "bag of strategies" for coping with situations, such as the schedules, crowds, camera at her position, had anticipated this, when she lost points on the first round she lost her chance at a world record but that was not the goal, set it aside and concentrated on the next shot; talks about how the match is organized with two relays of shooters with two phases for each relay (slow fire and rapid fire), with time between, was ready for the break because she had realized year ago that that where the match was won or lost; goal was to shoot 298/300, shot 297/300, done her best, shot her average score, when she went off range was told she could do no worse than a Bronze, then her score was tied and there would be a shoot-off, prepared for this; talks about her competitor being a friend but had to lay aside the friendship; talks about the shoot-off and then tieing and then needing another shoot-off, felt herself "cooling down like steel, up came this big steel inside of me and I became very determined" 3 of 3: 00:09Talks about the shots being called off and realizing she had won the Gold, the crowd was so quiet at that point you could have heard a pin drop and then someone called out "Linda" and the crowd roared; talks about her photograph had been used at the sport image at the venue; her family was there 09:12The impact of winning the Gold medal on the first day: huge impact; first Gold medal since 1968, first by an individual since 1956 when another shooter won Gold in the rifle prone position and first by a woman in a summer games since 1928; was told that the medal broke the ice for the other athletes and gave the team a huge boost; asked to carry the flag for the closing ceremony, felt like another Gold medal 14:19Medal presentation: thought of the other people who had helped her; wanted to be cognizant of every moment of the whole ceremony, describes it, presented medal by man who got women's shooting into the Olympics 17:33On retirement: wanted another Olympic Games but injuries prevented her from continuing; talks about physical problems caused by shooting; did compete for another 2 years and even won another shoot off with Ruby Fox, the Silver medalist 19:20What have you used from your sport experience: used all the positive thinking, positive mental attitude, self-esteem, when things that are not so good happens, put that aside and what can I do to improve, made a lot of friends, learned about myself and takes great joy talking to school children - biggest lesson to believe in yourself, associate yourself with positive people, her message to parents, coaches and teachers: when a child comes with a dream encourage them help them as much as you can, encourage them in any pursuit, not only sports; see that all sports are encouraged because you never know when someone from an obscure sport can achieve, not just the big sports 25:15On being inducted to the CSHoF: an enduring great honour walking with the generations of great athletes and builders, wonderful to see so many women being recognized 26:59Shows her Olympic medal 31:13Shows her Order of Canada |
Date |
2006/10/25 |
People |
Thom, Linda Fox, Ruby |
Search Terms |
Interview Linda Thom Pistol Shooting Women in sport 1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles 1983 Pan American Games Caracas World Championships 1973 Championship of the Americas |