Olympics spur old memories

For most, the Olympic Games opening ceremony is something you only watch on television. But for Baldivis resident Keith Gaisford, watching the Australian team walk out at London’s Olympic Stadium next month will stir memories of his own experience on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

Australia’s head archery coach for the better part of two decades, Mr Gaisford travelled to four Olympics Games, in Moscow (1980), Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988) and Barcelona (1992).

Mr Gaisford recalled his fondest memory of all four Games.

‘‘It was in Barcelona when they guy opened things by shooting the flaming arrow.

‘‘Rebollo was his name and he actually had one leg.

‘‘He was a Paralympic archer and I remember he had to launch the arrow over the cauldron and the cauldron had the fumes coming out.

‘‘It was an 80-yard shot at night and all the practice he did was during the day.’’

Australia had not claimed an Olympic archery medal until the Sydney Games, when Simon Fairweather, a former student of Mr Gaisford, won gold.

At the Games as an official bowstringer and technician, the now 81-year-old was in the stands to witness Fairweather’s triumph and said it was a moment he would never forget.

‘‘I was there with another guy from America as the main technicians and we were probably 30 metres from the field of play, so that was really interesting,’’ he said.

‘‘I coached him (Fairweather) at his first competition in 1988 and he went away to two Olympics with me in Seoul and Barcelona and three World Championships. I remember we were sitting behind him and he only shot one arrow outside the gold (target zone).’’

Archery has played a big part in Mr Gaisford and wife, Edna’s lives.

However, the couple were first introduced to the sport completely by chance.

‘‘It was during a financial recession in 1964 and we went to live in Northam,’’ Mr Gaisford said.

‘‘While we were there, a bloke came in while I was doing some signwriting and he had an arm guard on.

‘‘I asked him if he’d broken his arm.

‘‘He said ’no, I’m out shooting archery, come down this afternoon and have a go.’

‘‘So we did and my wife went very well.

‘‘As for me, I think they’re still looking for the first arrow I shot.’’

Mr Gaisford went on to become the vice president of WA Olympic Council and is a life member today.

Along with Edna, he started the Baldivis Archery Club in 1975 and has recently been involved with the Kwinana over 55 Archery Club.

A man of many talents, Mr Gaisford is also a keen painter and has a backyard gallery of his work.

He recently finished a book recounting his life experiences called Archery, the Olympics and Me.