Forrest Blakley

Hometown: Cobden, IL
Year Began Archery: 1991
Year Selected JDT: 2006
Personal Coach: Larry Skinner
JOAD Club: SI Archers Joad
Indoor Olympian: Gold, 2009
Outdoor Olympian: Gold, 2008
2009 Season Category: Junior
Age: 18
Jr USAT Rank: ()

My dad gave me my first bow at age 8. As I became older, I started to bowhunt with a compound and I was able to harvest my first deer at age 12. When I was 11 I began shooting an olympic recurve and shot with the local joad group. I competed in local tournaments in the area for the next few years winning several. When I was 15 I participated in my first Joad Outdoor Nationals and went on that year to make the Junior world and USAT teams. I also won the NFAA Indoor Nationals that year and set a number of indoor and outdoor national records. That fall I had the opportunity to represent the US at Merida Mexico and finished 4th in the cadet division. Since then I have been on the JDT and lived part time in Chula Vista at the USOTC. Hunting and fishing are my hobbies. When not training, hunting or fishing, I volunteer for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and work mowing and trimming yards for friends. My goal is to become more competitive internationally and ultimately win for the USA.