Good luck to Lesley
Shooter ready to challenge for medals inTokyo
East Perthshire shooter Lesley Stewart is edging closer to beginning her Paralympic Games adventure in Japan.
Lesley, from Blairgowrie, will compete in both the R8 (50m Rifle 3 Position Women SH1) and R2 (10m Air Rifle Standing Women SH1).
Her first event of the competition takes place on Monday at the Asaka Shooting Range.
A former military police officer, Lesley had her left leg amputated below the knee after contracting dystonia.
She was on track to compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympics but a bad infection led to nearly a year in hospital and an above knee amputation.
Ahead of starting in Tokyo, Lesley said: “I served in the military, I’ve had the chance to serve my country and now I’ve got the chance to represent my country and that is such a huge honour.
“Any athlete dreams of making the podium. I would love that to be the case, but in general I’d like to leave the Games a stronger person.
“Not physically but mentally, build my confidence back up. I’ve had years of injury, so my goal is to leave the Games a stronger individual.”
Lesley has also been aided on her road to Tokyo by staff at the sportscotland institute of sport and Scottish Target Shooting.
She works closely with sportscotland physical preparation coach Luke Birmingham, sportscotland performance lifestyle advisor Paula Jarvie, and Scottish Target Shooting performance coach Andrew Ross.
Blesma, a charity dedicated to assisting ex-servicemen and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss, has supported Lesley since her first diagnosis and helped fund her trip to Lima in Peru to qualify for Tokyo.
Lesley added: “sportscotland has been absolutely amazing. I do a lot of work with Scottish Target Shooting. The support they give is world class, I have a good relationship with my coach Andrew and his coaching is first class.
“I do a lot of work with Paula in the performance lifestyle team at the sportscotland institute of sport. It’s different things to get me in the right mindset. I now write journals, I keep a note of everything.
“I track my sleep and mood, it’s not one specific thing. It looks at everything possible to make me feel my best when I’m competing.
“I have my own strength and conditioning coach, my own nutritionist, physios and doctors so the support I receive is world class. They have given me everything I need to go to Tokyo and put in a really good performance.
“Blesma has also been incredible. They’ve supported me pretty much from my initial diagnosis and discharge until now.”
Jennifer Ross, a five-time Commonwealth Games medal winner and Scottish Target Shooting (STS) performance and pathways manager, said: “Everyone here at STS is so proud of Lesley, not only for what she has achieved since her return to the sport, but the manner in which she has achieved it.”