Marie Horackova kept up her impressive 2026 indoor season form as she topped qualification by two points in the recurve women category at the Nimes Archery Tournament.
The 2023 World champion shot 593, including 53 of her 60 arrows landing in the 10-ring, with Elia Canales not far behind in second with another fine score of 591.
Horackova, 28, began the 2026 Indoor World Series at the Swiss Open Lausanne 2025 with gold and, at the prestigious Kings of Archery tournament back in November, was the only recurve woman to shoot a perfect 900 score. Her score last night was just one point off the European record at 18 metres.
“I have to say I’m very satisfied but also a bit sad because it was just one point to shoot the European record, but I like this tournament, so I’m enjoying it a lot,” she said afterwards.
Nîmes is of heightened importance this year as it is the only 1000-point tournament of the revamped Indoor World Series before the finale in Las Vegas, which will not host the Indoor World Series Finals as it has done previously but solely The Vegas Shoot.
Currently, Horackova is one of four joint leaders atop this season’s standings on 250 points from her gold in Lausanne, alongside Canales (GT Open winner), Ana Luiz Sliachticas Caetano (Rio Indoor 250 winner) and Victoria Sebastian (Taipei Archery Open winner).
Should any one of these four get their hands on the coveted gold at Le Parnasse on Sunday, it would put them within touching distance of being crowned the 2026 indoor recurve queen, and Czechia’s Horackova has given herself the best possible chance.
France’s Louise Botte stands in her way first when eliminations begin this evening.
