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It’s not just that Reo WILDE’s last trip to a world championship in Nimes resulted in a world champion title, but the fact it’s such a familiar venue that’s got him – and a host of the compound men on the line – feeling pretty good about their chances this week.
“We come to Nimes every year [for the European Tournament, which has been running for 16 years], so it’s not a big deal in my mind,” says WILDE. “And that’s good: it takes some of the pressure off, and we can just relax and perform.”
His USA teammate Braden GELLENTHIEN joins in: “It doesn’t feel like a normal world championships because we’re here so often.” But the pair agree, this Nimes event is on another level: “The targets and lights are really fantastic…”
While the States team are quite relaxed, French archer and this season’s Indoor World Cup Champion Sebastien PEINEAU has his head down.
“It is my first senior worlds and the approach is very different from a normal Nimes tournament,” says the 2011 European indoor silver medallist. “I’m part of a team, we have a staff and I’m wearing the colours of my country. I am confident, though. I shot great at Las Vegas and picked up the gold, and my training has been going very well ever since.”
PEINEAU wasn’t even supposed to be shooting at these worlds. And, he only went to Las Vegas for fun because he had not qualified for the team.
In a strange twist of fate, Vegas brought a surprise win – he qualified just 15 out of 16 archers to make the Indoor World Cup Final – and then French team member Dominique GENET got injured. PEINEAU got the call up to replace GENET on his first day back to work after the return journey from Vegas… last Wednesday!
European archers PEINEAU and Mike SCHLOESSER (NED) took both titles – the Indoor World Cup Final and The Vegas Shoot, respectively – in America two weeks ago. These world indoors are an opportunity for the Americans to deal a dose of revenge on Europe’s own soil.
“I won Nimes last year,” WILDE reminds us, before adding: “it’s just awesome to see such great groups from Europe and America pushing each other to be better.”
With such a quality field and such quality on the field, some big scores are on the cards in qualification tomorrow. GELLENTHIEN predicts “98 or 99”; he’s talking 598, 599, of course. “I’m going to say 97,” replies WILDE.
GELLENTHIEN, clearly a betting man, asserts: “I’ll take the over on that.”
Photo of Reo WILDE from 2003 World Archery Indoor Championships courtesy of FFTA Archives.
The World Archery Indoor Championships is underway in Nimes, France until 2 March 2014. Check the event website, Facebook page and – see the schedule and who’s competing.
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