BACKGROUND IN THE SPORT
I am a four-time member of the United States Archery Team. I began archery in the winter of 2002 after graduating from college. In 2004 I tried out for my first Olympic Team but just missed it, finishing 6th at the Trials. In 2008, I tried for a second time and place 7th in the first round of trials. I then had to take three months off due to a tear in my teres minor. The time off definitely affected my shooting and during the second round of trials for the Beijing team, I finished 15th. In the beginning of 2009, I started training again after taking an additional nine months off to let my shoulder heal.
Despite not making either Olympic team, I did attend both the Athens and the Beijing games. In 2004, I went as a spectator and in 2008, I had a job as a journalist working for the Olympic News Service. In 2008, I was also part of two ad campaigns, one for Budweiser and one for Polo Ralph Lauren. You can see these ads in the video section of my website.
I've been a consistent top 8 finisher in National level events and have competed internationally in Bulgaria, Mexico, the Netherlands, China, Korea and Switzerland. Highlights of my career include 2nd and 3rd place finishes at the US Indoor Nationals in 2006 and 2007 as well as a 1st place finish at the World Ranking Event in Puerto Rico in 2007.
In order to train in the best weather and with the best coaches, I moved around quite a bit between 2004 and 2008. My first coach was Anthony Belletinni from Archery USA in Dedham, MA. In 2003 and 2004, in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Trials, I was coached by Vic and Terry Wunderle and I lived in Florida and Illinois. After placing 5th at 2005 World Indoor Team Trials, I began training with Alexander Kirillov in Tuscon, Arizona. I finally settled in California from 2006-2008 to train full time at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista with the US head coach, Ki Sik Lee. While training in Chula Vista, I participated in the Home Depot Olympic Job.
In September of 2008, I moved to Swtizerland and in June of 2009, I married the love of my life, Tim Foster. I continued to shoot archery on and off throughout 2008 and 2009. I had the good fortune to get to train with Michele and Vittorio Frangilli in Italy but then decided seven months into my first pregnancy to put the bow down for good. I'm currently happily focused on my marriage and my growing family.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
I was born in 1979 and grew up in Colorado. When I was 15, I was an exchange student to France with Rotary International. I finished high school at Phillips-Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. Upon graduating, I attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, spending one year at the London School of Economics in England.
During my senior year of college, I moved to Boston and interned at Bear Stearns on the trading desk. I later took up a job with Schwab Capital Markets (now Soundview) and worked there until I left to train full time for the Olympics. Throughout the five years that I was training full time, I held a marketing job at Northwestern Mutual.
Before picking up a bow, I was a rower. I competed at Exeter, in college and after college for a total of 7 years. My most notable accomplishment was a gold medal finish at the Women's Henley in England in 2001. I have also run two marathons, the Boston Marathon in 2002 and the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon in 2008.
When in California, I volunteered at San Diego 211, Endow Chula Vista, Eastlake Church and the Purple Palace. Throughout my archery career, I've been actively involved with Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) and have spent time working with kids with the North Dakota Shooting Sports Program and local clubs in Massachusetts and California.