LONDON: You won't find movie Archers Katniss Everdeen of “The Hunger Games”, Princess Merida of “Brave” and Hawkeye of “The Avengers” at the Olympics, but they just might have an impact on real ones.
Khatuna Lorig, five-time archery Olympian, has already had an impact on the cinematic rise of the arrow launchers after training Actress Jennifer Lawrence on how to fire a bow for her “Hunger Games” star turn.
“She was lovely,” Lorig said. “We had a great time coaching and working together. I don't know how she is right now but we had a great time.”
When asked about filming experience, Lorig said “It was a great experience. We were working on looking good on the camera mostly, but she actually got pretty good.”
“Brave”, an animated Disney film, features a young Scottish girl whose bow skills are tested while “The Avengers” featured Jeremy Renner playing Clint Barton, the superhero sharpshooter character “Hawkeye” from Marvel Comics.
“The movies have really raised the profile of archery and the media does a great job of keeping people interested,” US Archer Brady Ellison said.
Archery's big close-up scene before the cameras has resulted in a boost in interest worldwide. “For archery, it's huge,” Lorig said. “It deserves this big break.”
USA Archery found last month that internet interest had doubled and Twitter followings had quadrupled with youth clubs under fire with new applicants.
“It's amazing the impact a Hollywood movie can make on a sport,” USA Archery Chief Executive Denise Parker said last month. “You can't buy that kind of promotion and exposure.”
There's more to come. Next month's release of the “Hunger Games” DVD will feature the six US Olympic archers on the cover in special editions.
The US men's team took archery silver on Saturday with the women's team due to compete today.
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