{"id":3570,"date":"2020-06-25T05:49:53","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T19:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/in-sight-with-thomas-grice\/"},"modified":"2024-07-24T15:11:44","modified_gmt":"2024-07-24T05:11:44","slug":"in-sight-with-thomas-grice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/in-sight-with-thomas-grice\/","title":{"rendered":"In Sight with Thomas Grice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ustream.tv\/embed\/recorded\/127031319\" style=\"border: 0;\" webkitallowfullscreen allowfullscreen frameborder=\"no\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Proven gun<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">more than a sentimental choice<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em>by Greg Campbell<\/em><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Could you imagine<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Lewis Hamilton driving a 14<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8211;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">year\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">old\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mercedes Formula One\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">racing car<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tiger Woods<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">using a decade-old driver<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">? What about a Tokyo Olymp<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ian using\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">14<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8211;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">year old\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">shotgun\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">which has fired<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">over 200,000\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">round<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0at\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">clay targets<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0over its life span<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Trap shooter Thomas Grice will be headed to his first\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Olympic<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Game<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s in Tokyo next year and there is every possibility his trusty\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">14-year old\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Beretta 682 shotgun will\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">be\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">his\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">firearm<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0of choice<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0when he takes on the world\u2019s best<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Apart from being the gun which\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">saw him earn Tokyo Olympic selection alongside James Willett, there is a high degree of<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0emotional sentiment<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0attached to his gun.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Grice\u2019s grandfather, Frank Gould, was the man responsible for introduci<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ng<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0him to shooting when he\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">was first eligible to receive a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">shooting<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">permit<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0when aged 12.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For the first two years, Grice<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0would use his mother\u2019s shotgun<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">but that soon changed<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cHe s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">et mum\u2019s gun up to suit me and when it became apparent that I was going to stick at it for a while and keep going to the range, he said you\u2019ve got to have your own gun that\u2019s got to be set up to fit you properly<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d said Grice<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4903 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DSC4997-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" \/><\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">True to his word, Gould purchased the Beretta\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">682<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0\u2013 the same gun used by his mum\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2013<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and he\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">could\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">hardly contain his excitement when it was presented to him.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt was a great day. It was the same gun as what I\u2019d been shooting for a couple of years<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. B<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ut to be able to say it was mine<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0it was set up to suit just me<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0is what every kid\u00a0dreams\u00a0of<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d said Grice.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Having two younger brothers as well, this was something I didn\u2019t have to share<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d he added with a laugh.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">H<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">e\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(Gould)\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">been my best supporter by far. I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today without him<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Complicating<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0his gun of choice at Tokyo next year is the recent arrival of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Beretta DT11 Black<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0which he earned\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">when<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0claiming<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0the High Gun\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">prize<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0at the Beretta Cup championship in\u00a0Lonato, Italy<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">l<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ast year.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0following<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">clos<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ure<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">his home range at the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sydney Internati<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">onal Shooting Centre<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0because of COVID-19<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and upgrades to the trap range<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the Cobbitty local<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0has yet to fire a shot<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0with his<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0new gun.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI\u2019ve mounted with it 8<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">000 times but it\u2019s still sitting in my gun safe<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. If it\u2019s not up to scratch, I will be back with the old girl for sure<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d he said.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">live firing resumes at SISC, Grice intends to spen<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0a weekend<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0testing the gun to see\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">if it will improve his shooting accuracy<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0but\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">remains unsure whether he will\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">use the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">upgrade<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">d version in Tokyo.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fifty per cent of the people out there will tell you that you have to have the latest and greatest, and the fifty per cent of other people will tell you<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0its<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0how it fits you and having some talent and just putting it into the right place every time. It\u2019s hard to argue against tha<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">t.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you put the gun in the right place, it doesn\u2019t matter what gun you are shooting<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0he said.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Grice was forced to en<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ure a nail-biting<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Olympic nomination series before finally getting the welcome phone call from National Shotgun Coach, Richard Sammon<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, that he w<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ould<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0be nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee for selection in Tokyo.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI was driving\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and had the phone on Bluetooth when he called. I nea<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">r<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ly fell out the car doo<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">r<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. I was\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">smacking the side of<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0the door<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0that<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0hard<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0I was that happy<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0I nearly broke the window<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d he\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">said with a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">laugh<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Going into the fourth and final nomination event at SISC, Grice held a narrow two-point lead over 2016 Rio Olympian, Mitch Iles,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0for the second position beh<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">i<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">nd runaway leader, James Willett<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0\u2013 but not that he knew the precise margin.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI very purposely had not done the maths. I knew I was in front, but by how many I didn\u2019t know. I knew it wasn\u2019t all that many. I figured if I don\u2019t miss, he can\u2019t catch me,\u201d he said.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Because\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">of the growing coronavirus concerns and that fact that\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he and Iles were the o<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">nly athletes capable of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">capturing the second men\u2019s trap position<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">they were the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">only\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">shooters\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">entered for the final event meaning that it was\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">effectively a two-man shoot-off.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt was strange<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0but I was there to do a job and I did a decent job of not letting too much rattle me. I thought I had four targets on him going into the event, but\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">it<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0turned out that I only had two<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he said.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0with a few targets to go in that last event, I thought I was in. I thought I had the second spot nailed down<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0a<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">nd I thought he can\u2019t catch me here<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">hen I missed another one late in that last round and then went through clean from there\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0walk<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ed<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0away at the end to find out I had him by two<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">hat was tight.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2018It\u2019s hard to think that after 500 targets it would come down to one target<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he added.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Winning Olympic selection was<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Grice\u2019s goal and he admits he has relied on hard work<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0throughout his career<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">rather than<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0natural ability<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to attain his dream.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">He has represe<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">nted Australia on the international shooting circuit since\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">younger brother James<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">won selection to attend the 2012 Junior World Cup.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">He went close to winning selection for the 2<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">16 Rio Olympics<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0but<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the trap places were ultimately\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">claimed<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0by\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Adam Vella<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and Iles.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt proved to me that I was capable of it<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0he said.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3149 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/YAK_Agency_38642.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2449\" height=\"1633\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Games se<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">le<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ction\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ultimately\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">came his way at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, but one poor round saw him finish out of medal contention.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cBut I\u2019ve made vast improvements since then. I\u2019m a far better shooter now than I was then. It was good experience, good exposure and hopefully it will hold me in good stead going into the Olympics<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">t was a great event, good fun and to be part of a home Games was just amazing. To see the support for shooting<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0which is so often reviled and get<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0dragged through the mud in the media<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and to have a stand of people cheering for shooting<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0was excellent<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d he added.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But a home Games can prove to be a distraction with\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">family and\u00a0f<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">riends<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0part of<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0a<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0raucous crowd.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI thought leading in I was doing a pretty good job of being able to distance myself from that an<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0just focus on my shootin<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">g. B<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ut I don\u2019t think I really did<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, l<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ooking back. It was good experience and I can certainly build from that.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">While Grice hasn\u2019t fire<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0a shot since the final Olympic nomination event in March, he has reviewed his training regi<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">me and has added more fitness work into his Tokyo Games preparation progra<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">m<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0particularly with the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">purchase\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a rowing machine<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and extra gym work.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWhile there\u2019s some excellent shooters that are very obviously not all that physical<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ly<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0fit, I think it\u2019s a great help to be far fitter, so I am working on my fitness a lot more than I ever have in the past. Hopefully<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0that\u2019s going to put me in good stead going into the future.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Additionally, through his association with the NSW Institute of Sport<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, h<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">e is working with a dietician and intends to utili<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">se its physio services when he returns to firing at 300 targets a week in training.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Apart from his individual event in Tokyo, Grice will compete in the Mixed Pairs where<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0he\u2019<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s likely to be partnered with Victorian<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Penny Smith<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The pair won the inaugural Mixed Pairs world title in 2017 and were bronze medallist<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0behind team-mates Willett and\u00a0Laetisha\u00a0Scanlan\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">at\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">last year<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2019s World Championship<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When he goes to Tokyo<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0he knows anything\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">i<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s possible<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">fondly\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">recalls the jaw-dropping Winter Olympic Games\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">victory of Steven Bradbury.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cTo finish first, first you must finish,\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he said<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And watching<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0proudly\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">will be\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">his Pop, who will\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">be<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0aged 90 by the Games<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt would be nice to come home with a bit of silverware for him<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d he said<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Proven gun\u00a0more than a sentimental choice\u00a0 by Greg Campbell\u00a0 Could you imagine\u00a0Lewis Hamilton driving a 14&#8211;year\u00a0old\u00a0Mercedes Formula One\u00a0racing car,\u00a0or\u00a0Tiger Woods\u00a0using a decade-old driver? What about a Tokyo Olympian using\u00a0a\u00a014&#8211;year old\u00a0shotgun\u00a0which [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-in-sight"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3570"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3573,"href":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3570\/revisions\/3573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shootingaustralia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}