My name is Louisa Piper and I started archery when I was six, after two consecutive years of “have-a-go at unique sports days” in primary school. My sister, who is four years older than me, also started archery a couple of years after and when I was 10, we both joined the national academy (where I was the youngest).

louisa-piper

At 14, I made my international debut in Croatia, winning my first two international medals: individual bronze and team gold in the U18 category. That same year, I also represented Great Britain in the U21 category and attended my first senior world cup in Shanghai. As a result, I was selected for the World Class Programme alongside my sister, becoming the youngest ever archer to do so. Since then, I have travelled the world competing in all three age categories in both target (the Olympic discipline) and field archery. I have won 15 international medals, claimed 42 UK records, two European records, two World Records, and been second reserve for both the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games (just missing out due to a series of unfortunate events).

As you can imagine, this has taken an incredible amount of time and dedication. During COVID, I lived at the National Centre whilst completing my A-levels virtually, and in my second year of university I studied part-time to train there three days a week (though all my other years have been full time). Despite my sporting commitments, education has always been my priority as unfortunately archery can’t pay the bills.

I’ve always enjoyed Maths and Science, whilst also possessing a very creative side. This combination naturally led me to engineering, which I narrowed down to aerospace after taking part in several Smallpeice Trust courses – notably week-long courses at RAF Cosford and the National Space Centre in Leicester. As a result, I went on to study Maths, Physics and Biology at A-level, alongside completing a GCSE in Astronomy.

When it came to choosing a university, I was torn between Nottingham and Birmingham (where my brother and sister went). Ultimately however, it was Nottingham’s excellent facilities, beautiful campus, top-tier aerospace course, and most importantly the support offered by the scholarship team that sealed my decision.

I am an Aerospace Engineering student going into my 4th year, currently tracking for a first. The course is demanding and academically challenging, especially when balancing it with elite level archery, but I find it incredibly interesting and rewarding. This year I designed an unmanned loiter reconnaissance drone with a 2,000km range and a 10-day loiter time, landing only for maintenance.

I also worked on two satellite mission concepts – one focused on the archaeological scanning of Orkney’s rich neolithic history, and the other on urban heat mapping to support vulnerable communities in India. I really enjoy the computer-aided-design side of the course and would love to pursue this further in my career. Next year I will begin my Master’s project under the supervision of Chantal Cappelletti, CEO of GAUSS Space in Rome, in which I will contribute to the design and operation of a real satellite.

As of June, I have stepped into the roles of University of Nottingham Archery Team Captain and Assistant Coach. After being on the Olympic squad for the past eight years, I hope to pass on the experience and knowledge I have gained with the goal of enriching the Nottingham club for future students, helping them enjoy, grow and succeed in the sport just as I have.

This ongoing support has allowed me to continue to excel athletically and academically, both of which I am incredibly grateful for.
Louisa Piper

Without my scholarship I would not have been able to compete at the World University Games this summer, nor take part in the National Tour – a key series of events in the British archery calendar. The final are held in Nottingham, so the ability to return and compete again this year means a lot to me, especially as I hope to match the podium finishes I’ve achieved in the past.

Beyond funding travel costs and competition entry fees, the lifestyle support that the scholarship provides is invaluable when it comes to juggling elite level sport with a degree as challenging as aerospace engineering. Knowing there is a team behind me that not only listens and supports me, but also fully believes in who I am, has made all the difference, not only to my sporting performance, but my day-to-day wellbeing throughout what has been a difficult year.

Thank you for your support, it truly makes a difference. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to attend many key unfunded competitions that are essential to my development and success as an athlete. But more than that, the lifestyle support the scholarship provides has been a necessity for meeting the demands of my archery commitments alongside such a challenging degree. This has allowed me to continue to excel athletically and academically, both of which I am incredibly grateful for.