FOUR years ago, Adam Vella could not begin to forecast the trajectory of his future in shooting.
Ranked No.1 in the world at the time, Vella failed to make the Australian shooting team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
One target cost him dearly in a cut-throat selection process that failed to recognise consistency over a four-year block.
Vella was shattered not to get a chance to better his bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
While none too pleased with the selection process that did not reward performance over a sustained period, he admits that he has only himself to blame.
“In 2008, it was four competitions and that was it,” the Keilor resident told the Weekly.
“At the end of the day, I should’ve shot one more target. I made mistakes.”
Redemption is a hard slog for an Olympian. Your life goes in four-year cycles. It’s a long time between major competitions.
Vella has managed to climb back to the top with his Australian selection for this month’s London Games.
Now 40, he is more experienced, focused and hungrier than ever to get back on the podium.
This time he wants a gold medal dangling from his neck and Advance Australia Fair playing on the loudspeaker, but would take “any colour” medal just to experience the thrill of being back on the podium.
Vella will never forget that career-defining moment in Athens when he received bronze.
“It’s life-changing being an Olympic medallist,” he said.
“In a sense, you’re part of history. It’s the ultimate.”
Vella might not be the top-ranked shooter in the world any more, but he does have a potent mix of experience at the level and a burning desire to atone for his mistakes before Beijing.
Entering with a world ranking of 39 in the shotgun trap division, external expectations are not going to be as high as they might have been four years ago.
But Vella will have the weight of his own expectations on his shoulders.
“Being my second Games, I’m feeling a little bit more pressure to perform. It’s a different feeling, the expectation is only coming from me.”
Vella has a confidence in his ability on the biggest stages.
It is no wonder, the 27-year veteran is a dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist and five-time World Cup gold medal winner.
He is the only person to hold the world No.1 ranking in both the trap and double trap disciplines at the one time back in 2003.
Vella said the “biggest hurdle” was surviving the qualifying process. Now, he can get back to doing what he does best, producing in the pressure cooker of the big event.
“It’s all about how you prepare yourself,” Vella said.
“If I prepare myself right, I can get on with the job and that’s the key.
“You’ve got 20 guys that can realistically win and you’ve also got to go in there being positive.”
Unlike his first trip to the Olympics, Vella will have a better chance to get used to his surroundings.
In Athens, his event was one of the first on the schedule, and he missed out on the chance to walk in with the team at the opening ceremony.
With the men’s trap competition taking place on August 6 at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, Vella will get the whole experience of the Games and also get a chance to familiarise himself with the shooting range that he hopes will deliver his dream.
“I’m definitely going for gold,” Vella said. “That would cap off my career.”
