Nicholas D’Amour successfully defended his lead from the first set to edge world number two Marcus D’Almeida and triumph in the San Cristobal 2025 Pan American Field Archery Championships.
USA’s D’Amour finest end was in the opener, shooting two of his five 6s in the first three arrows to take the lead 17-14, the intense humidity in the woods of southern Mexico not stopping a formidable start.
D’Almeida however went on to win the next two ends – individually speaking – at 17-16 and 15-14 but as field runs accumulative scoring in recurve unlike target archery, his American counterpart was able to maintain a 47-46 lead heading into the final fourth end.
The recent World Championship runner-up needed to gain a one point advantage to get a shoot-off or more to win the match overall but brutally like in Gwangju last month – where he lost the gold to Andres Temiño Mediel in a shoot-off – came agonisingly short, tying the set 15-15. D’Amour came out on top 62-61.
Sunday’s victory for 24 year old recurve archer D’Amour did not just mark his maiden individual gold at international field archery but a rectification from Iguazú 2023, the previous and inaugural edition of the Pan American Field Championships.
Much like yesterday, he began sharp in the first end two years ago but failed to hold onto his lead as his opponent that day Luis Alvarez capitalised on his decreasing scores.
With another two years of international archery under his belt now however, the pressure under the bright sunlight and steaming humidity in Chiapas was not as telling for D’Amour whose gold was one of nine taken by USA over the weekend in senior individual and team categories.
Beating a top-ranked such as Marcus D’Almeida is the cherry on top.
