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Girard becomes France’s second compound men’s world champion after Peineau

8 September 2025

Gwangju, Korea

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Nicolas Girard added to his impressive outdoor season with victory in the compound men’s final at the Gwangju 2025 Hyundai World Archery Championships, not dropping a single point.

He edged world number two Mathias Fullerton, 150-149, with both archers heading into the fifth end on perfect 120s. But the Dane faltered at the last hurdle, landing his only nine with his 13th arrow.

Girard – also the top men’s compound seed this week – seized the opportunity and closed with a 100% record in the 10-ring.

“I admit I still have a bit of trouble really feeling it,” he said after being greeted by raucous cheers and whistles from his French teammates in the warm-up tent. “For sure, the welcome my friends gave me touched me a lot.

“Throughout the outdoor season, my goal was to make it onto the podium at the World Championships, so all the World Cups helped me try to raise my level.”

“I hadn’t planned on showing this [a 150 in the gold medal match], but I think I succeeded today, and that’s really good.”

Girard’s journey to gold at 5.18 Democracy Square had all the makings of a World Archery Champion – one that Sebastien Peineau, the last Frenchman to win the title in Mexico City in 2017, would be proud of.

The morning’s last-16 was a smooth opener, another 150 against Türkiye’s Batuhan Akcaoglu’s 147. Then came a comeback – and a touch of revenge – against India’s newly crowned team gold medallist Rishabh Yadav, who led 117-116 after four ends. But two wide nines scuppered the Indian’s chances, as Girard finished strongly to win, 146-145.

It was the second time the two had faced off this week after the team final.

Nicolas Girard aiming against Mathias Fullerton.

The Indoor Archery World Series Finals runner-up turned pantomime villain as he ended hopes of a Korean compound champion on home soil, defeating eventual bronze medallist Choi Yonghee in a shoot-off under heavy rain – a cruel outcome for the Korean, whose family were watching from the stands.

Different contexts, different matches, different pressures, different opponents – but Girard had an answer for whatever Monday afternoon threw at him, much to the detriment of reigning European Champion Fullerton.

While others faltered, he looked unstoppable.

It was a stark contrast to his early exit at the last World Championships in Berlin, where he famously missed the target altogether on one arrow in the opening round.

“It was very difficult,” said Girard when reflecting on that previous performance. “The weather conditions were tough for us. I missed the target once. That’s the game, it’s part of archery.”

“There was disappointment afterward, but that arrow allowed me to get here today.”

If Girard is victorious at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Nanjing next month, it would cap an unforgettable season in which he’s climbed three World Cup podiums – including individual gold at stage three in Antalya – after going three years without one since Tlaxcala in 2022.

Girard has timed his rise perfectly to follow in the footsteps of Peineau.

The first three rounds of the compound women’s individual event also took place this morning at the Gwangju International Archery Centre. The champion will be crowned tomorrow at 5.18 Democracy Square – watch live with a subscription to archery+.