Recurve Men: The battle for supremacy
This category brought four different names – a sign of just how competitive the field is right now.
John is staying loyal to Marcus D’Almeida, who had a difficult Olympics but remains one of the most complete recurve archers in the world. He believes it’s his time to shine, noting his impressive medal run and mental strength, predicting it’s time for him to turn bronze into gold.
Karim says Mete Gazoz has everything he needs to win again – and with new strong support from Red Bull, he’ll be hard to stop. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion has the potential to finally claim the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final title, after a couple of bronze medals.
Bernardo offers a more personal take, picking France’s Baptiste Addis. With his fluid shooting style and his talent and confidence boosted by an Olympic silver medal in the Paris 2024 team event, the 18-year-old has all the tools to win at the highest level. But he also notes D’Almeida’s ability to turn disappointment into motivation after a lacklustre performance in Paris, predicting a strong comeback this year.
Vanessa sees Thomas Chirault, another French Olympian, as one to watch. After a strong 2024 season that included team silver at his home Games alongside Addis, he’s now in the world’s top five and gaining momentum, and his rising form and confidence make him a strong contender for the title.
Other mentions by our panel included: Kim Woojin, Brady Ellison and Lee Woo Seok.
