Schloesser claims 12th World Cup stage gold at Antalya 2026
Mike Schloesser further cemented his remarkable history as the Dutch archer claimed the 12th individual stage gold medal of his Hyundai Archery World Cup career at Antalya 2026.
Antalya has long been a happy hunting ground for the Indoor World Series Champion, who had already collected five gold medals in the city before arriving in Türkiye this week – four in compound men and one in compound men’s team.
And although the man nicknamed “Mister Perfect” did not quite live up to the title under overcast skies at the Gloria Sports Arena, he still shot two 149-point matches, finishing just two arrows away from perfection.
Schloesser looked set for a perfect 150 against compound men’s world number one Mathias Fullerton before drifting a low-left nine with his final arrow. The Dutchman responded by shooting the closer arrow in the resulting shoot-off to advance.
Against Mexico’s Sebastian Garcia in the gold medal match, Schloesser again dropped just one nine, while Garcia shot two, allowing the Dutch archer to secure his 12th Hyundai Archery World Cup stage title.
“The only thing I thought about when I came here was that in 2013 I became world champion here,” said the Saltillo-bound archer, who is aiming for a fifth Hyundai Archery World Cup Final title later this year. “When I got on the plane I was thinking about that. Thirteen years ago I won gold, and my goal was to do it again here.”
“The only thing I thought about when I came here was that in 2013 I became world champion here,” said the Saltillo-bound archer, who is aiming for a fifth Hyundai Archery World Cup Final title later this year.
“It’s such a relief to manage that, but I put a bit too much pressure on myself, especially on some of those arrows, and I still have something to learn.”
“I’m very proud of the career that I’ve had so far.”
Schloesser was only 19 years old when he won his first major World Archery title in Belek in 2013.
As shown in the Behind the Bow documentary Mr and Mrs Perfect, he was a far quieter and more reserved athlete at the time, even if his talent already marked him as one of compound archery’s brightest prospects.
More than a decade later, Schloesser remains one of the defining figures of the discipline.
“I’m still working on building it and making it bigger, of course, but I’m still very proud of those 13 years,” he said. “That was kind of my first big World Archery win, and over 13 years I have had an amazing career that I’m very proud of.”
“Of course I want to do more and more. I feel like I’ve been growing as a person as well. I’m helping out people and stuff like that.”
“I really hope that I’m an inspiration to some archers and that people know they can always come to me for help.”
His knowledge of the compound bow is something both aspiring and established elite archers would love to tap into, but Schloesser has also become a figure admired for more than medals and results.
Through the friendships and relationships he has built in the sport – including his lifelong partnership with wife Gaby – the Dutchman has become an example of how archery can offer far more than competitive success alone.
Compound competition in Antalya is now complete, with recurve finals scheduled for Sunday beginning with the team gold medal matches.
Podiums: Antalya 2026
Full results on the event page.
Compound men
- Mike Schloesser, Netherlands
- Sebastian Garcia Flores, Mexico
- Mathias Fullerton, Denmark
Compound women
- Andrea Maya Becerra Arizaga, Mexico
- Sara Lopez, Colombia
- Arina Cherkezova, AIN
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