TWO months out from the Tokyo Olympics, a week in Wagga is an important training event for Paul Adams as he prepares to chase the ultimate prize.
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Adams is part of the Australian skeet shooting team that will head to Tokyo in July for the Olympic Games, that were postponed from last year due to COVID-19.
Adams has made the trip from Queensland to Wagga this week for the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) National Skeet Championships.
Adams does not usually shoot the 'American skeet' that is taking place in Wagga this week but added the event to his calendar to help prepare for Tokyo.
"(I've shot) not too bad," Adams said.
"I haven't had much competition practice since March last year after COVID locked us all down. I didn't pick up a gun until December last year, I had nine months off.
"I've just been doing a bit of training for the Olympic Skeet. This is American Skeet, same name but it's a bit different. I don't shoot this at all, I'm just having a bit of fun here and using it as competition practice as a work up.
"I've got my main event in two weeks in Brisbane and that will be my one and only event and competition training for the lead up into Tokyo."
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While it is not his usual format, Adams thought the nationals in Wagga as a great opportunity to train for certain aspects of shooting.
"It's definitely trying to get myself into those pressure moments if I can," Adams said.
"Here, you need to shoot nearly all of them, pretty much, to try and get into those events, shoot offs, and I'm trying to get myself into that, get into that moment so I can try to train for that.
"That's my ultimate goal, if you come away with a nice little medal, that's great, but that's not my priority at the moment, I'm trying to get myself ready for that main event."
Adams is no stranger to the main event. He represented Australia at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
"I finished right in the middle, 17th," he said.
"I didn't shoot terrible, I didn't shoot amazing. 118 out of 125 and the cut off was 121 to make the final. You just need that little bit of luck on the day. There's not much in it."
Adams has set his sights on a medal in Tokyo.
"A medal. 100 per cent. Any colour," he said.
"Obviously we all say we want to go gold but the ultimate goal is to get a colour there. It would be really good."
Adams, 28, was snorkelling on Hamilton Island this time last week so it was somewhat of a culture shock to arrive in Wagga for the week-long nationals.
The Brisbane shooter said he has loved his time in Wagga.
"It's been fantastic," he said.
"Lovely weather, the people are always fantastic at the skeet nationals, it's run really well so you can't ask for much more than that."
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