France upset USA in bronze medal shoot-off

France recurve men’s team – made of Lucas DANIEL, JC VALLADONT and Pierre PLIHON – opened their bronze final with 56 points, five points more than the USA team that dropped a seven and an eight in the first set. 

The French team managed the first end without problems. They were relaxed, shooting well and enjoying the weather, despite the wind. 

Actually, according to the team, they were too relaxed. 

Three eights in the second set for a total of 50 gave the USA a chance to catch-up, then jump into the lead in the third when France put the same score down for a second six-arrow series in a row. 

A 57-point set finale, riding on a 4-2 lead, wasn’t enough to seal a USA win. France shot a secure 58. Shoot-off. 

“We got our focus back in the fourth set because we needed to win. For the shoot-off we put out our mettle on the table and shot the arrows to win,” said JC VALLADONT.

With 17 points in the target for the States, 18 for France, VALLADONT stepped onto the line. A centre-ring 10 would win it. 

His arrow wasn’t a 10. It was an X. 

Before Antalya, the French team said they had been practising shoot-off situations. That preparation paid off. 

“We were ready for it,” said Lucas DANIEL. “I felt better on the shoot-off arrow than during the rest of the match.” 

The only time France has won an Archery World Cup stage gold match was in Antalya 2011. This year, they beat Australia and The Netherlands to make the finals, but lost to China in the semis. 

The trio is now working on their preparation for the worlds in Copenhagen. 

“This is the first time we are all shooting together before the worlds,” said Pierre PLIHON. “We’ll do it again in Baku, so Antalya and the European Games are all part of our preparation. Our goal is to win a medal.” 

The USA tried their new rotation – also ahead of the worlds.

For the first half set, the order was ELLISON, KLIMITCHEK and GARRETT. For the second half, they tried KLIMITCHECK, GARRETT and ELLISON. 

It was good, but not enough to win. 

“It was a good match. We all had a couple of rough arrows but I think it was very useful in getting to know where we stand and how we perform under pressure,” said KLIMITCHEK, emotionless as France celebrated taking bronze. 

“We will learn and we will use the experience to improve,” he added. 

Read more about Antalya 2015.