French Archery Champions Crowned in Thrilling Finals
The 2024 French Archery Championships saw fierce competition across various categories, culminating in exciting finals that showcased exceptional skill and determination.
Senior 1 Division: New Champions Emerge
Sophie Rouze of Chauvigny dominated the Senior 1 women’s division, securing the championship title with a hard-fought victory over Emilie dellinger from Thuit Signol. The final score of 138-136 highlighted the intense battle for supremacy.Laurie Lecointre, representing Saint Avertin, claimed the bronze medal, adding to her remarkable performance.
In the men’s division, Felix Sobry of limoges-Couzeix delivered a stunning performance, amassing 146 points in the final to claim the gold medal. Alexandre Junker from Sarcelles put up a valiant effort but ultimately settled for silver. Anthony Buriasco of Charpey rounded out the podium, securing the bronze medal.
Senior 2 Division: Jobert and Payet Reign Supreme
Alexandra Jobert of carquefou emerged victorious in the Senior 2 women’s division, edging out Céline Bercher of Draveil Sénart by a single point to claim the championship. Laetitia bouron of Ruelle secured the bronze medal, demonstrating her consistent performance throughout the competition.
Stéphane Payet from Lyon 8ème dominated the men’s division, securing a decisive victory over Julien Thieffine of Suresnes with a score of 144-139. Damien Popping of Rouvres en Multien earned the bronze medal, showcasing his talent on the national stage.
Senior 3 Division: Goitschel and Casula Claim Gold
Catherine Goitschel of Aix les Bains solidified her position as a top contender in the Senior 3 women’s division, converting her provisional lead into a championship victory. She defeated Pascale Gascoin Millier of St Gilles Croix de Vie with a score of 140-138. Michele Stacey of Fronton secured the bronze medal, demonstrating remarkable composure by hitting a perfect 10 in the tie-breaker.
Noel Casula of Bastia Asptt emerged as the champion in the men’s division,showcasing his prowess with a final score of 139 points against Guy Huon of Aubergenville,who finished with 135 points. Daniel Lelou of Cholet Tac,a decorated Paralympian with medals from New York in 1984 and Seoul in 1988,added another impressive achievement to his career by securing the bronze medal.
Aiming For Gold: A Conversation with Archery Champion, Alexandre Junker
The 2024 French Archery Championships were a testament to skill, strategy, and sheer willpower. As the dust settles on another exciting tournament, we had the prospect to sit down with Alexandre Junker, the silver medalist in the Senior 1 Men’s division, to discuss the highs and lows of the competition and his own journey to the podium.
moderator: Alexandre,congratulations on your outstanding performance at the championships! A silver medal is a fantastic achievement. How are you feeling after such an intense competition?
alexandre Junker: Thank you! It feels great to have performed well on such a big stage. Of course, there’s always a little bit of disappointment when you come so close to gold, but I’m incredibly proud of myself.
Moderator: You went head-to-head with the eventual gold medalist Felix Sobry in the finals. What was that experience like, facing such a strong competitor?
alexandre Junker: Felix is an incredible archer. He was incredibly consistent throughout the competition. The final match was a real battle, and I knew I had to give it everything I had. While I didn’t come out on top, I learned a lot from facing someone of his caliber.
Moderator: The Senior 1 Men’s category was fiercely competitive this year. What did you see as the biggest challenge going into the championships?
Alexandre junker: The field was stacked with talent. Every archer there had the potential to win. I think the biggest challenge was staying focused and believing in myself, even when the pressure was on.
Moderator: We saw some incredible performances across all the categories at the Championships. Who impressed you the most?
Alexandre Junker: It was amazing to see Sophie Rouze dominate the Senior 1 Women’s division. her consistency and composure were truly remarkable,and she fully deserved her victory.
Moderator: Looking forward, what are your goals for the rest of the year and beyond?
alexandre Junker: My goal is to keep improving and pushing myself further. I want to continue competing at the highest level and hopefully earn a spot on the French national team. Ultimately, my dream is to represent France at the Olympics.
Moderator: We’d like to thank Alexandre for his time and insights. His dedication and passion for archery are truly inspiring.
What are your thoughts on Alexandre’s performance? Who impressed you the most at the 2024 French Archery Championships? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
