It's never too late to be a beginner, and it's never too early to be exceptional.
Just ask Lori Buenger.
What started as a way to exercise turned into competitive archery and eventually into a bronze medal in her age division at the U.S. Senior Olympics in San Francisco.
And it's all happened in just 19 months.
"I was reading an article in a health magazine," said Buenger, 74, "and it was about a woman who thought (archery) was really good for her upper body. I'm an avid walker. I walk four miles a day. I have an old English sheepdog, and we go. I thought, 'I gotta do something for my upper body.' When I read about the archery I thought that would be a good way."
It didn't take long for Buenger to become hooked.
"My son in Wisconsin called and asked what I wanted for Christmas in 2007, and he's used to hearing, 'I don't need anything. Don't get me anything.' I said, Mark, I know exactly what I want. I want a bow, some arrows and a target. He said, 'You're kidding me.' I said, 'No, but buy me something cheap, because I don't know if I'll like it.' I fell in love with it. When we got home on Jan. 4, I started practicing in the backyard, and I haven't stopped since."
Buenger competed in the district olympics in May 2008 and was partnered with Don Turrell, who now helps her as a coach.
"The first time I shot with her in a tournament," said Turrell, "she put several arrows clear over the target, and missed right or left. She doesn't do that now."
Buenger took to shooting her bow like the proverbial duck to water, winning a gold medal at the state olympics last year.
"I think I need to concentrate more and be a little more steady," she said. "I feel I've come a long way in a year and a half. I'm competing next month in the state olympics, and it will be my second time to compete there. I had to compete in state last year to qualify for the nationals. I won the gold medal, but there were only two people there in my age group."
Buenger put her skill to the ultimate test Aug. 5-6, competing in the 70-75 age division at the national olympics - held every two years - in San Francisco, shooting 90 arrows in the competition.
"There were five registered in my age group," she said. "I don't know how many total archers there were at the olympics. ... It was something that I will remember for the rest of my life. If I don't get to go in 2011 - which I'm certainly looking forward to going - this will be in my long-term memory bank."
Buenger was in awe of the athleticism of the seniors at the olympics.
"It was absolutely inspiring," she said. "I'm thinking, 'Here we are, all senior citizens, competing.' The guys on the track - you should have seen them sprinting, and they were 70, 80 years old. I was so impressed with the woman that was 93 and swimming. It's just so inspiring to see other people do what you're doing in the different age groups. The camaraderie is just unbelievable. You get to meet a lot of interesting people."
Reiterating the improvement Buenger has made at the range, Turrell is well-pleased with his former partner's bronze medal.
"When she first started down here, she couldn't hit the target," he said. "She's doing a hundred percent better, now. At nationals, I'd be thrilled to death to get a (bronze)."
With a great part of her family making the trip, Buenger was significantly relaxed at the olympics.
"It was incredible," she said. "They were a cheering team, not only for me, but for all the shooters. All the other archers were impressed with them because there were 10 of them and they had posters and were cheering all the competitors. The other archers were saying, 'It's so nice that you brought your own cheering section.' It was heartwarming because I was thinking, 'My family is here."'
Buenger did, however, lose one member of her family before the games.
"The first day I shot at nationals, I did it in memory of my nephew, Chub Capello, who died very young at 52 in the middle of June," she said. "I had a shirt that said, 'In loving memory of Chub Capello.' "
Buenger already has her sights set on the next national olympics.
"The next national will be in 2011 in Houston," she said. "That will be much better for us, because I have a daughter that lives outside of Dallas."
Lori practices some at her house and some at indoor ranges, but when it comes to training on an official range, the practicing presents some inconvenience.
When Lori and her husband, Gordy, come to the Winston Parkinson Archery Range at Bull Shoals City Park to practice, they have quite a drive, almost from Norfork.
"If I want to compete, I have to come out here," she said. "It's a 35-mile drive for us, but it's worth it because I have to practice on this official range. I'm so pleased that they have this here. When I come out here, I'm usually here for a couple hours, shooting close to 100 or 120 arrows."