Shooting Para sport athlete Paralympian #236 Neelam O’Neill was proud of her efforts at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games highlighted by a tenth-place finish in the P2 Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1. We chat to the 32-year-old Auckland-based athlete about some of her key learnings from Paris 2024.
Based out of Chateauroux in the satellite Village – where the Shooting Para sport athletes were based at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games – for the bulk of the Games provided a unique experience for Neelam. On the one hand it allowed for a very focused environment while on the other hand being based a four-hour drive from Paris it perhaps lacked the vibe of life in the main Paralympic Village in Paris.
“Knowing the scale of the Paralympic Games, I was expecting it to feel different compared to going to a World Cup or World Championships,” she says. “It was a privilege to be there and to experience all the emotions that came with being at a Games. It was a good test of whether I could deal with the pressure of being at a Games. The fact I managed to cope was encouraging and should add another layer of experience going into LA 2028.”
Neelam, who also finished 21st in qualification for the R3 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 events, admits being part of a satellite village created both its advantages and disadvantages.
“To be away from the distractions in the main village was personally a good thing because it allowed me to focus on what I needed to in order to get the job done,” she says.
“I know I can become a bit of a fan girl seeing athlete from others sports and watching my friends from other sports compete.
“Yet being based in Chateauroux felt quite far away and quite separate from the Games,” adds Neelam, who post her competitive programme did get a taste of the Paris 2024 vibe by spending several days in the main Paralympic Village.
“That being said it created more of a calm and collected environment – more like a mini World Cup event, which to some extent took the pressure off.”
Neelam admits should she earn selection for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games she will experience a very different Games as she will be based within the main Paralympic Village.
Yet her biggest learning from Paris 2024 was just to enjoy the experience.
“It was important to embrace it all and not put too much pressure on myself” she says. “Embracing all that came with the Games, being with my team-mates because they are your whānau when you’re away and remembering that if you’re not happy with your performance, there’s always another competition around the corner.”
