Peineau unites outdoor and indoor world champion titles

Sebastien Peineau upset world number one Stephan Hansen to the compound men’s World Archery Champion title in Mexico City, unifying the outdoor and indoor crowns and preventing his Danish opponent from becoming the first in the category to defend the world title.

“I’m still shaking,” Peineau said, showing his hands. “I do not realise it completely, so I’m not crying yet but it will come.”

“If someone had been told me before the championships that I would be in the final, I would not have believed it, and now I’m Champion, it’s huge!”

After becoming France’s first compound men’s indoor archery world champion, Peineau has now become the first ever male French archer to hold the outdoor title – and he now holds both at the same time.

“I was absolutely not aware of this, and this is one more line under my name in the history of French archery, I am very proud,” added Seb. France’s only other outdoor champion was compound woman Catherine Pellen on home soil at Riom 1999.

The victory is even more incredible considering Peineau spent most of the last indoor season rehabbing an injury in his elbow.

Peineau said he arrived nervous in the match: “The sight was moving a lot, I had not felt this since my title in Ankara. I just wanted to stay dynamic in my shot and my engagement, because even if it moves it can always scratch a 10.”

Seb had a lead after a slow start from the defending champion.

Over the back-half of the 15-arrow contest, that advantage slipped away – and the pair were tied at 143 points come the close of regulation.

The Frenchman shot first in the tiebreak – and shot a middle 10.

Hansen’s was also 10, but further out.

“That final arrow was fine, it was a 10 and I cannot do more than a 10 right now, he shot okay and today was just not my day,” said Hansen, who explained that he’d been sick since Tuesday. “It was just shaky and feeling bad, nothing felt calm.”

No compound man has ever won two World Archery Champion titles.

Danish 22-year-old Hansen arrived in the final as favourite, having posted matches of 150, 150, 149 and 149 in the Mexico City eliminations, but never looked as comfortable in the finals arena.

In the bronze medal match, Braden Gellenthien beat Pierre-Julien Deloche and secured the third individual medal in his career.

“I never doubted I would leave the arena with the medal,” said Gellenthien, who looked in control throughout and took the match, 147-143. “Hopefully there’s a gold a couple of years down the line.”

A six-time team World Archery Champion since taking another gold on the morning of compound finals in Mexico City, Braden shot three perfect ends out of five in the individual bronze medal match.

The 2017 Hyundai World Archery Championships run 15-22 October in Mexico City, Mexico.