Slovak archers prepare for Dakar 2026 at the World Archery Excellence Centre

Slovakia has become the third country to benefit from a week of intensive training at the World Archery Excellence Centre ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Between 5 and 9 October, archers Adela Tollarovicová and Oliver Sotak fine-tuned their preparations in Lausanne. Last month, Bulgaria’s Neda Kenderova and Georgia’s Daviti Basiladze took part in a similar week of intensive training.

As in the September camp, coaches Kyeongsu Jeoung and Howard Catherine provided expert support to the Slovakian team.

These Olympic Solidarity-supported camps bring both athletes and their coaches to Switzerland. This means the work done at the Centre can be continued in the lead-up to Dakar and, most importantly, during the competition itself.

“The week was amazing,” said Adela Tollarovicová. “I got to know some new things on the technical side and also on the equipment side.”

Adela, aged 15, started archery nearly a decade ago, younger than many archers are when they take up the sport.

“I didn’t know what archery was. It was offered to me as a course in primary school and I wanted to try it.”

Back then, she had no idea how far shooting with a bow and arrows could take her. She was simply enjoying herself.

“I didn’t expect anything from it. I was shooting and I liked it,” she said.

The primary-school course marked the start of a journey that also brought her father into the sport.

Lubomír Tollarovic was not an archer himself.

“I learned everything because of her,” said Adela’s father and coach.

If archery initially meant more time together for father and daughter, the demands of high-level training have also brought challenges to their relationship.

“Sometimes it is very difficult because we are together every day, all the time,” said Lubomír.

He also has to balance two different roles.

“Sometimes I have to be a father, and sometimes I have to be a trainer.”

Lubomír knows Adela’s strengths better than most.

“She’s goal-oriented. She is strong and she wants to do it.”

As for expectations at the Games, he is not looking too far ahead.

“I cannot guess. We’re just very happy she is going,” he said.

Adela also has no specific expectations for Dakar.

“I would like to give it my best performance, then I’ll be happy,” said the 15-year-old.

Like Adela, 16-year-old Oliver Satek has a close relationship with the person who has guided his development: coach Juraj Duchon.

Juraj runs an archery club in Slovakia with the help of his brother, Miroslav Duchon. It was there that Oliver progressed from shooting his first arrows to preparing for his first Youth Olympic Games.

“For the first half a year I was training with Miroslav. Then I started training with Juraj,” Oliver explained.

Oliver had tried swimming before discovering archery. His mother found the Duchons’ club online four and a half years ago.

Like Adela, Oliver did not initially dream of reaching Olympic level.

“I didn’t think it would be possible [to go to an Olympic event],” he said.

One advantage for Oliver is that his long-time mentor, Juraj, will be the coach leading the Slovak team in Senegal for the Games.

“We know each other. He knows what I need in competition,” said Oliver.

Juraj sees Oliver’s physical conditioning as one of his greatest strengths.

“He’s very strong and powerful. He handles a strong bow.”

With that in mind, the coach has set his sights on a top-16 finish at the Youth Olympics.

For Oliver, however, Dakar is also a step towards a bigger ambition.

“I want to be one of the best archers in the world,” he said.

Whatever the results in Senegal, Slovakia sending two archers to Dakar is an achievement in itself.

Slovakia’s previous Youth Olympic archer, Boris Balaz, competed at Nanjing 2014. Two years later, he went on to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The prospect of competing in Dakar brings a mixture of excitement and nerves for Oliver.

“It is a great feeling that I have a chance to go there to represent my country,” he said. “I’m a bit nervous, to be honest, but it’s normal.”

For Adela, competing in Dakar is a reward for the work she has put in.

“I work hard every day, whether it is shooting or going to the gym. Because of that, I would say it is a prize for me to go to the Youth Olympics.”