Beirut, Lebanon (CNN)She’s
struggled for funding in a country where sport has long been
overshadowed by politics and even bloody conflict — but Ray Bassil is
on the cusp of something special.
The
27-year old arrived at the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro as
number one in the world in women’s trap shooting — a fast-moving
discipline where the competitor hits “clay pigeons” released from a
spring trap with a shotgun.
27-year old arrived at the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro as
number one in the world in women’s trap shooting — a fast-moving
discipline where the competitor hits “clay pigeons” released from a
spring trap with a shotgun.
She’s also the favorite to become Lebanon’s first-ever gold medalist.
Financial hurdles
Despite her lofty ranking, Bassil’s climb to the top hasn’t been easy.
It’s
a constant struggle for resources and support in a country where
there’s little infrastructure for any athletes at her level. Lebanon is
still recovering and rebuilding after a devastating civil war that raged
between 1975 and 1990.
a constant struggle for resources and support in a country where
there’s little infrastructure for any athletes at her level. Lebanon is
still recovering and rebuilding after a devastating civil war that raged
between 1975 and 1990.
It was only
in the months leading up to the Rio showcase when she received funding
to make the costly trip — through private sponsorships.
in the months leading up to the Rio showcase when she received funding
to make the costly trip — through private sponsorships.
Before [the funding] it was really much
harder. I had to work and cover my expense and my training,” she says
between practice rounds on the range.
harder. I had to work and cover my expense and my training,” she says
between practice rounds on the range.
Bassil’s
aunt and sports manager, Cicilia Moudaber, estimates that training has
cost the athlete $135,000 in the year leading up to the Olympic Games.
aunt and sports manager, Cicilia Moudaber, estimates that training has
cost the athlete $135,000 in the year leading up to the Olympic Games.
In
order to pay for her expenses — which include custom-made gear,
private training sessions every day, as well as travel to competitions
around the world — Bassil runs a restaurant near her home north of
Beirut. She also receives help from family members where they can.
order to pay for her expenses — which include custom-made gear,
private training sessions every day, as well as travel to competitions
around the world — Bassil runs a restaurant near her home north of
Beirut. She also receives help from family members where they can.
In
countries where there is well-established support for Olympic athletes,
such as the United States, athletes are offered access to a range of
services, including trainers, medical professionals, school tuition
contributions, and even career management advisers. The United States
Olympic Committee gave $73 million directly to American athletes and
sports bodies and another $81 million to support programs in 2013 alone.
countries where there is well-established support for Olympic athletes,
such as the United States, athletes are offered access to a range of
services, including trainers, medical professionals, school tuition
contributions, and even career management advisers. The United States
Olympic Committee gave $73 million directly to American athletes and
sports bodies and another $81 million to support programs in 2013 alone.
And then there’s the issue of being a woman in a male-dominated world.
Bassil
has never had a teammate, as she’s the first professional woman rifle
shooter in Lebanon in decades. Since she started shooting 14 years ago,
Bassil has been the only woman at the shooting range, where photos of
men receiving trophies line the walls
When Bassil trains, there are often a
handful of men who stop what they’re doing to watch her shoot, but there
is no sign she’s fazed by the attention.
handful of men who stop what they’re doing to watch her shoot, but there
is no sign she’s fazed by the attention.
It’s
the same at her afternoon gym session, where more photos of male
athletes stare down from the walls. Bassil says she has grown accustomed
to the role of “little sister” around the crowd of male shooters, whom
she praises for their encouragement over the years.
the same at her afternoon gym session, where more photos of male
athletes stare down from the walls. Bassil says she has grown accustomed
to the role of “little sister” around the crowd of male shooters, whom
she praises for their encouragement over the years.
Her
father, Jack Bassil, a former competitive shooter, first introduced his
daughter to shooting when she was a teenager. Almost every day he
stands behind his daughter as she practices, cotton in his ears, eyes
following the trajectory of each shot.
father, Jack Bassil, a former competitive shooter, first introduced his
daughter to shooting when she was a teenager. Almost every day he
stands behind his daughter as she practices, cotton in his ears, eyes
following the trajectory of each shot.
“On
competition day, I become a different person,” he says, his hands over
his heart and smiling. “I’m stressed and shaking, waiting for the
results.”
competition day, I become a different person,” he says, his hands over
his heart and smiling. “I’m stressed and shaking, waiting for the
results.”
Jack is her coach day-to-day, but ahead
of competitions Bassil exchanges text messages with a coach based in
Italy who oversees her routine remotely. There are no coaches in
Lebanon with the level of expertise required, she says.
of competitions Bassil exchanges text messages with a coach based in
Italy who oversees her routine remotely. There are no coaches in
Lebanon with the level of expertise required, she says.
The family involvement doesn’t end here.
Her
mother, Jocelyn Bassil, has traveled with her daughter to many
competitions, and has stepped in to help manage her daughter’s
restaurant in the year leading up to Rio. Her sports manager aunt
handles everything from media interviews to sponsorship agreements.
mother, Jocelyn Bassil, has traveled with her daughter to many
competitions, and has stepped in to help manage her daughter’s
restaurant in the year leading up to Rio. Her sports manager aunt
handles everything from media interviews to sponsorship agreements.
But they’ll all be watching Bassil’s Olympic bid back in Lebanon — it’s just far too expensive for everyone to travel.
Extreme focus
Bassil
has learned to tune these challenges out and focus on her target: a
neon-orange clay disc the size of an adult hand that is fired from one
of 15 positions, and travels left, right or center, at random. The sport
requires an extreme level of focus that borders on a trance-like state,
she says.
has learned to tune these challenges out and focus on her target: a
neon-orange clay disc the size of an adult hand that is fired from one
of 15 positions, and travels left, right or center, at random. The sport
requires an extreme level of focus that borders on a trance-like state,
she says.
Bassil says she’s more ready than ever
for the competition in Rio. This will be her second Olympics, after
placing 18th in London in 2012. But her father says she’s a different
person going into these Games.
for the competition in Rio. This will be her second Olympics, after
placing 18th in London in 2012. But her father says she’s a different
person going into these Games.
“She
didn’t have the training she has today,” he says. “Before, she was by
herself in everything. Today, no. There’s a team with her.”
didn’t have the training she has today,” he says. “Before, she was by
herself in everything. Today, no. There’s a team with her.”
Though sports may not be a funding priority in Lebanon, Bassil is a source of pride and passion among Lebanese people.
In
the weeks leading up to the Games, major networks broadcast interviews
with Bassil, sponsors organized photoshoots and social media campaigns,
while the local mayor in her town held a celebration where a cocktail —
a “golden bullet” — was mixed in her honor.
the weeks leading up to the Games, major networks broadcast interviews
with Bassil, sponsors organized photoshoots and social media campaigns,
while the local mayor in her town held a celebration where a cocktail —
a “golden bullet” — was mixed in her honor.
Ray Bassil will compete in the women’s trap shooting event on Sunday, August 7.
