Nicolas Girard added to his impressive outdoors season to win the compound men’s final at the Gwangju 2025 Hyundai World Archery Championships, not dropping one 10.
He edged world number two Mathias Fullerton 150-149 in the final end with both heading into the fifth set on perfect 120s but the Dane could not suffice the scintillating standard at the last hurdle, dropping his only nine at the 13th arrow.
Girard – also the top compound men seed this week from qualifications – took the opportunity presented by the scruff of the neck and finished with a 100 per cent record in the 10-ring.
“I admit I still have a bit of trouble really feeling it,” he said after being greeted to 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 Championship so all the World Cups helped me try to raise my level.”
“I hadn’t planned on showing this [a 150 in gold 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 champion, one that Sebastien Peineau – the last male French compound king from Mexico City 2017 – would be proud of.
The morning’s 1/8 round was a smooth opener, scoring another 150 against Türkiye’s Batuhan Akcaoglu [147]. Then, a comeback – plus sweet revenge – against one of India’s newly crowned compound men team gold medallists Rishabh Yadav who was leading the tie 117-116 after four ends but wide nines either side of the target stumped his chances as the Frenchman finished strongly [146-145].
It was the second time they faced one another this week following the team final.
