Antalya 2026: all four reigning European champions return to try and go back-to-back

The stage is set, as over 300 archers from 41 countries have descended upon the Antalya field, looking for a title in one of the most prestigious and long-running majors of all – as well as coveted quota places for the Istanbul 2027 European Games.

As they step onto the shooting line for qualification on Tuesday, we take a look at how Europe’s reigning individual champions from Essen 2024 have fared over the past two years. Will experience reign supreme, or is Europe ready to crown a new generation of archery royalty?

Mete Gazoz

When Mete Gazoz won gold in Essen in May 2024, he achieved something truly extraordinary; becoming the first archer in history to hold the Olympic, World, and European titles simultaneously.

Since that genuinely historic moment, the Turkish superstar has remained a major force on the global stage – even if the hometown hero is now only holding on to the last leg of the triple crown. 

While the hopes of a repeat title at Paris 2024 were dashed in a tough individual bracket –  finishing in the last eight – he led out the Turkish men‘s team to a bronze medal in the team event, a goal that coach Yusuf Goktug Ergin stated he was working towards immediately after Mete's victory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

In 2025, Gazoz maintained his elite status, taking European indoor team silver and an individual gold at the Spring Arrows. in 2026, he brings both unparalleled experience and form, taking mixed team, team and individual bronze medals at the Shanghai 2026 Hyundai Archery World Cup stage 2 earlier this month, along with a bronze in Puebla. 

It’s a slightly different Mete from five years ago; a leader of men, perhaps. There's a lot of talk about the new wave of Turkish archers on the squad, but we shouldn't forget the most famous one of all. Another title here would be a monumental achievement in his story. And he might just be the favourite. 

Katharina Bauer

Bauer’s triumph in Essen was a pinnacle moment, solidifying her position as Europe's top woman recurve heading into Paris – although I'm sure she wished her Olympic debut had caused a little more impact.

Bauer finished 27th in the ranking round before a tough first-round exit in the individual eliminations on the Olympic stage, while the German women’s team also bowed out in the quarterfinals. 

Since then, it's not been a spectacular couple of years for the now 30-year-old, despite a solid run of top ten finishes indoors and out last year. She did, however, take a bronze medal at this year’s European Grand Prix Spring Arrows, losing only to Marie Horackova. Has she peaked again at the right time? 

The European Championships here will offer Bauer a familiar stage to reassert her continental dominance. Defending her title in Antalya would be quite the statement of resilience and class.

Mathias Fullerton

Since Essen, the Dane's trajectory has been almost entirely upwards, although he missed out on his first world title at the Gwangju 2025 Hyundai World Archery Championships, losing to Nicolas Girard. It oddly felt like a blip, in a sea of dominant performances. 

In the middle of 2025, he took over the world number one spot from Mike Schloesser after a field win at the European championships – a telling moment with Mikey still shooting at his very best last year. 

He arrives in Antalya in frightening form, after instantly bouncing back from a disaster in Vegas (in Vegas, for elite compounders, a disaster means shooting a single nine in the middle of 89 tens) by winning the first outdoor major of the year in Puebla. He didn't follow it up in Shanghai, but he did shot 717 out of 720 in qualification. It's still right there. 

It's hard to call a winner from the big three in European compound men – Fullerton, Schloesser and Girard – but the Mathias machine keeps rolling, and he might well be the biggest scalp of all.  

Ella Gibson

Ella Gibson's European title in 2024 was hard-fought; she defeated Italy’s Elisa Roner in a dramatic shoot-off after a 144-144 tie. It was one of many big moments she has handled like a true champion. 

If 2024 was her European breakthrough, the last two years have been perhaps not quite at her most imperious, despite a win in Madrid, and Andrea Becerra managed to take the world number one spot after her own spectacular run in 2025.  

But a major achievement came just two months ago in March, when she finally conquered the Vegas Shoot; after finishing runner-up in 2024 and third in 2025. Gibson triumphed in an unprecedented five-way women’s shootdown. 

She didn't open the 2026 outdoor World Cup season well, but Gibson steps onto the outdoor line in Antalya as always looking to win and dominate, and here, defend. Never be fooled by the smile.