At the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, Canadian compound archer Brynnleigh Lohner’s experience became a shining example of the camaraderie and support that define archery beyond competition.
After two stopovers on her way to Essen, Lohner arrived to find her bow – a carefully crafted and highly personalised tool essential to her performance – missing. For any archer, such a loss can be devastating, but giving up was not an option.
“It’s a little bit of a roller coaster because I was like kind of accepting the fact that I probably wasn’t going to shoot this week, and then, I was offered a couple bows,” Lohner shared with Sarah Maat, part of the FISU young reporters programme.
“There’s a lot of work and a lot of hours that get put into setting up this equipment so when it goes missing it’s a little devastating,” the kinesiology student at the University of Calgary explained.
Portugal’s Giselle De Sousa and USA’s Sydney Sullenberger, standing behind her in the equipment check line, immediately offered to help. Lohner tried out De Sousa’s backup bow, which turned out to be a perfect draw length fit.
The story of support didn’t end there.
Lohner’s teammates, along with archers from Croatia and Singapore, stepped in with spare gear – shoes, quiver, arrows – and advice, helping her adjust to the new equipment and prepare for the women’s compound qualifying on Tuesday.
“I definitely notice after being able to compete in a lot of other different international archery events that there is a huge sportsmanship component and a huge sense that everyone’s willing to help each other out, that’s just kind of the environment in archery,” Lohner said.
“Whatever you need, people are going to step in, and they are going to help you even though they have never met you before.”
