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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Tokyo Olympics: Natalya Coyle in bronze medal position in Modern Pentathlon

Natalya Coyle is sitting in the Olympic bronze medal position in the Modern Pentathlon after the fencing event - and with four more events to come on Friday.

Coyle, 30, was sixth in Rio and is hoping to do even better in her third Olympic Games, with freestyle swimming, showjumping and a final combined event of pistol shooting and cross country running to come.

But the ultra-experienced competitor is keeping her eye off the prize and off where she is in the pecking order.

"Yeah it was really good, I actually don't know the results but I don't think I'll have a look because Pentathlon it's one out of five and I know I started off well and that I'm really happy," she said.

"I'm really happy to have done all the training and my coaches justice anyway, I'm really happy with that.

"I was very pumped that whole way through there whereas normally I conserve a bit of energy but we've got some extra time.

"I was pretty excited for each hit and yeah, there is a lot of mental energy expended, it is three hours, but it flies by and I can't believe it's over.

And the Meathwoman reaped the rewards for her intensive fencing training in recent years, as well as an intensive preparation in her holding camp when she worked with a number of fencers.

"Yeah I was really lucky in the holding camp in Fukuroi that Team Ireland organised to bring some good fencers out there and I think I got justice for that in the piste today, they definitely helped," she said.

It can be more difficult for left-handers in the one-touch épée event, but she coped very well.

"There's not many left-handers out there so I think you just kind of re-set each time around," Coyle remarked.

"I've been at this a while now so you do kind of just get up and get ready to go and it's the Olympics, it's the pinnacle of every sport so you are really pretty up for every fight and the big thing is trying not to ride the losses.

"Normally I say don't ride the highs, but I think I rode them around pretty well around the arena!

"Normally I try to stay nice and calm between bouts and let it all out in the piste. I'll have a big day tomorrow."

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