Archery: in Nîmes, the American Brady Ellison at the top of his bow

La finale nîmoise mettait en scène Ellison (en rouge), vice-champion olympique, à Unruh, 4e à Paris. MIDI LIBRE – MIKAËL ANISSET

On Sunday, at Parnasse, the US archer showed himself to be imperial, winning for the fourth time this round of the Indoor World Cup in the Gard.

''When I saw him shoot his first arrows, and even if I hoped that it would be Baptiste (Addis) or Jean-Charles (Valladont) who would win, I was sure that he would win. He was the one who impressed me the most.'' The sports director of the Arc club of Nîmes, Olivier Grillat, who knows a thing or two about his sport, was right.

On Sunday, in Nîmes, Brady Ellison, 36, won the recurve bow title. And a few well-felt “10s” in the final against the German Florian Unruh, who could do nothing, scattered 7-1 to the four corners of the Parnasse.

In Nîmes, the US archer, who came first in the qualifications with 597 points, was just ''impregnable'', confirmed Grillat. Nîmes' Baptiste Addis, eliminated in the 8th by Ellison (6-4), and his teammate in the French team, Thomas Chirault (3rd in the end), stopped in the semi-finals, were able to testify to this.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

''In Nîmes, I hear and feel the crowd, close, it gives me energy''

''I love coming to Nîmes, proclaims Ellison, nicknamed The Prospector. I am always very well received. I hear and feel the crowd, close, it gives me energy.''

Against Unruh, Ellison began his masterpiece with two volleys of three arrows in the “10”, followed by a seventh, still on target, before… a “9” and ''Oh'' of amazement coming down from the stands.

''The audience was so disappointed'', laughs the archer from Glendale, Arizona, who will therefore return across the Atlantic after having inscribed his name for the 4th time on the list of winners of the event, after 2011, 2012 and 2020.

At home, Victoria Sebastian climbed onto the 3rd step of the podium. Great performance. MIDI LIBRE – MIKAËL ANISSET

''I don't know how many times I've won here…'', slipped, sincere and smiling, the 2019 world champion, before the official medal ceremony. The force of habit, no doubt, for this king (still) without an Olympic crown, individual silver medalist at the Paris Olympics. If Ellison thrilled the Nîmes crowd, what can we say about the local, Victoria Sebastian.

Victoria Sebastian's great comeback

During the bronze medal match, the 20-year-old ACN player, 4th last year, made a comeback against Estonian Parnat, coming back from 3-5 to 5-5 before the Baltic was caught by the pressure on the shoot-off arrow (6-5).

''It took me a while to get into the match, with a bit of pressure, wanting to do well in front of the crowd, then I knew how to poser, analyzed, delighted, the 2024 French Elite champion. Finishing with a beautiful arrow, which I will not regret, is great.''

In the semi-final, Sebastian had been eliminated on Saturday by the future winner, the English Healy. A consolation, if she needed it, her bronze medal fully satisfying her.

Full results on the world archery website