Fullerton nails seventh 150 of World Series to claim victory in Rio

Mathias Fullerton scored a scintillating 150 in the compound men’s final to claim his first Indoor World Series gold of the 2026 season at the Rio Indoor 250.

It was Fullerton’s second perfect score in Rio, having also shot flawlessly in his first-round matchup against Marcelo Pereira. Great Britain’s Ajay Scott, however, faced the Dane’s fine shooting at the pinnacle of action in the Parque Olímpico, losing narrowly by just one point  – as narrow as it can get in compound archery.

Once Fullerton’s fifteenth arrow was confirmed in the 10-ring by the target judge, it secured the world number one’s seventh 150 in this indoor season so far, having already posted five in the GT Open last month.

“It’s been so awesome,” he said with a broad smile after the match. “I was excited all week before coming here, and as soon as I arrived I could feel the good energy and vibes – loving the weather, the event, going to the beach.”

“It’s so nice when it’s snowing back home [in Denmark]. I felt like I struggled a little in the finals, but here on the stage it felt really nice. The work I’ve been doing is paying off, and I’m just going to keep doing that.”

Fullerton seems in no rush to leave the peak sunshine of Brazil amidst the southern hemisphere summer. 

“Hopefully, it’s sooner rather than later I’ll be back here in Rio again,” he said.

Calm and composed on the shooting line, he looked the happiest he has been in competition, competing as the world’s top compound men’s archer with former world number one Mike Schloesser in his coaching box. 

Fullerton’s self-confidence and clear enjoyment of the sport, combined with his form, created the perfect conditions to succeed at the highest level – even against an in-form Scott, who was himself shooting strongly.

In his first full senior season outdoors on the international circuit in 2025, Scott gained a career-first international gold at the Swiss Open Lausanne 2025. Twice during the Rio final, his arrows had to be checked by the target judge – once in the third end, where it was upgraded to a 10, and again in the final end, but then, the shaft was deemed not touching the spider.

Rio became Fullerton’s first top podium in the Indoor World Series since the 2024 Vegas Shoot. The Dane’s elite consistency – including second-seed finishes in Lausanne and the GT Open – makes him the athlete to beat so far indoors.

In the compound women’s final, Colombia’s Alejandra Usquiano defeated top seeds Andrea Becerra and Dafne Quintero of Mexico to claim her third gold of 2025 – her previous victories came in Nimes and at the Medellin 2025 South American Open Championships.

Brady Ellison began his indoor season in winning style by emerging victorious in the recurve men’s competition, while Ana Luiza Sliachticas Caetano claimed a maiden indoor gold in the recurve women’s event.

All finals were broadcast live and can be watched back with a subscription to archery+.

The next stop on the Indoor World Series is the Nimes Archery Tournament in January.

Winners: Rio Indoor 250

• Recurve men: Brady Ellison, USA
• Recurve women: Ana Luiza Sliachticas Caetano, Brazil
• Compound men: Mathias Fullerton, Denmark
• Compound women: Alejandra Usquiano, Colombia