Western New York native to compete in 2012 London Olympics

Western New York native Jake Kaminski will be joining the United States Olympic archery team later this month at the 2012 London Olympic games. The 23-year-old archer from Elma took time out of his Olympic-sized schedule to give back to his archery club in West Falls on Friday, July 6.

Throughout his several years of training for the Olympic events, Kaminski acquired thousands of dollars’ worth of archery equipment from sponsors. During Friday’s event, which was held at the West Falls Conservation Society at 55 Bridge St., he donated $18,000 worth of that equipment to Leo’s Junior Olympic Archery Development.

Many young people involved in the archery club were present at the event and were able to shoot with Kaminski, who also addressed present television crews and shot some footage for his sponsor, Kellogg’s®.

While the young people practiced their archery, Kaminski walked among them, taking time to be present with the kids, coach them and sign autographs.

Kaminski’s wife, mother and father were also present at the event with him. When asked what it is like to be married to an Olympic athlete, Amanda Kaminski said, “He’s always going, going, going. There’s tournaments and training. Even when we have down time, we’re just getting ready for the next thing.”

The young couple met in Mexico during an archery tournament and married a year and a half ago. Kaminski works for a company called Archery House and teaches children.She also coaches archery at the Olympic training center.

Kaminski said she and her husband have been saving up money to purchase a house, planning to make that move following the 2012 Olympics.

Though the two said they are unsure where they will put down their roots, Jake Kaminski said he has had no shortage of archery-related job offers. His chosen occupation has taken him to many countries across the globe, and he said that he is very excited to be heading to London for the 2012 Olympics.

“I am just going to go and enjoy it,” Kaminski said, adding that he is not worried about what place he will take in the upcoming competition. “I’m not going to expect anything, and hopefully the outcome is as good as everybody hopes.”

Kaminski said there were certain advantages to honing his skills as an archer in WNY. He said that the “adverse weather conditions” in the area, such as humidity and wind, have helped him prepare for many other venues.

Achieving what Kaminski called a longtime aspiration of competing in the Olympics is now a reality for him. “I have always wanted to be in the Olympics and now I have the chance and opportunity to do it,” he said. “It’s been a dream for a long time.”

Kaminski was 17 when he first went to train in Chula Vista, Calif. for the Olympics, and his mother, Suzanne Linde, said she could not be more proud. “It is a very special feeling, and it’s very overwhelming, and I’m just so thankful and grateful that finally, all the hard days of work my son put in to this dream has finally come to fruition,” she said. “I’m so happy.”

On the list of Kaminski’s supporters is Leo’s JOAD, which the athlete said played a “huge role” in his pre-Olympic life.

Eileen and Bob Pfeil, who run Leo’s JOAD, have known Kaminski for more than 10 years. “When he switched to a recurve bow, that was his ultimate; he went to the Empire State Games with us,” Eileen Pfeil said. “Ever since then, that was the ultimate.”

The Olympic games begin in London on July 27.