The family Schloesser: Mixing parenthood with archery at the 2025 World Games
On the face of it, compound men’s archery seems to be unchanged in 2025.
Mike Schloesser sits on top of the world rankings at number one halfway through another fine outdoor season for the Dutchman, his 14th on the senior world circuit.
With gold medals in Shanghai and Madrid – the second and fourth stages of the 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup – along with one in the mixed team, also in Spain, ‘Mister Perfect’ basks on his throne as if nothing has changed.
But that couldn’t be more wrong. In December 2024, Mike and his wife Gaby – the Tokyo 2020 mixed team silver medallist – announced a “party of three incoming” on their Instagram and on 29 May 2025, Luna joined the Schloesser family.
The birth happened just in time for Mike; he journeyed a couple days later to Antalya 2025.
“You have a certain expectation of the training routine, and getting ready for competitions, but it wasn’t like that,” said Schloesser on life as an early parent and athlete. “You’re not on your A game.”
The best are often their own worst critics and the Belek 2013 World Archery Champion is no different, even though the addition of a new family member will turn anyone’s life upside down.
In Türkiye, Schloesser still managed to reach the quarterfinals, a finish many archers would dream of on archery’s premier international circuit, but was visibly disappointed.
And the fourth and final stage in Madrid was where the cheerful – and rarely tearful – 31-year-old really let his emotions out.
“[It’s] my first time being a dad, winning a World Cup from a lack of practise, and a lack of sleep in general,” said Schloesser when asked why he shouted and fist pumped the air after defeating Emircan Haney. “My qualification was really horrible but during the week I felt increasingly comfortable, and my scores went up and up.”
“I had a little bit of disbelief (before Madrid) but I know that I have the capacity. I just didn’t have my practise hours, and I think that one mentally was very tough for me in the beginning… But the second half (of week) was amazing, and I kept building from there on.”
The Lac La Biche 2024 World Archery Field Champion also credited support from other archers during the week in Madrid, reminding him of his greatness rather than his missing preparation.
There are plenty of ‘good guys’ in archery and Schloesser is one of them, warranting that arm around the shoulder from fellow competitors.
Luna may have watched her father win his ninth World Cup stage on the television, but she’ll be right there to see him in the flesh at the Chengdu 2025 World Games.
Chengdu is the first archery event where all three Schloessers are travelling together, with Gaby participating in the recurve women field event in China.
Trialling what is effectively a working holiday for the couple as first-time parents at one of the biggest multisport events should give a clear idea whether it can work for future seasons.
“I will see how it works,” said Mike whose daughter will be little over three months old by the time the World Games begin on 7 August. “It’s our plan to do the end of season as a family of three and just see how it goes. If it’s too much of a struggle, we need to figure out something else, but I don’t see a reason why we cannot pull it off.”
Before they depart the Netherlands, it might be worth Mike and Gaby – if they haven’t already – asking the Ellisons for some advice.
Paris 2024 silver medallist Brady Ellison and 2022 Indoor Archery World Series Finals gold medallist Toja Ellison are another power archery couple that have taken their two young sons to archery tournaments in the USA and beyond, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Neither’s ability has taken a downward spiral since starting a family.
In his third World Games outing, Mike is one of the compound men’s favourites, while for Gaby it’s her second time at the competition. She is back on the shooting line for the first time in six months.
How much balancing childcare and competing affects their elite performance remains to be seen, but there will be a sense of togetherness and unity at a competition like there has never been between them with the presence of Luna.
It could be distracting – or it could offer that extra little boost that make the difference.
