Brady Ellison bellowed his way back to coach Mel Nichols in the Nanjing recurve men gold medal match after securing his sixth Hyundai World Cup Final title against Marcus D’Almeida.
It was a rematch of the world’s top two ranked recurve men archers contest 11 years ago in the Lausanne 2014 Archery World Cup Final, and like then, Ellison emerged victorious from the gloomy, cold cloud in China although this time it ended 6-4, not in a shootoff.
At 4-2 up heading into the fifth end, with D’Almeida dropping a 28, the American great needed at least a 9 having already scored 9, X in the set and did just that, landing the deciding arrow a centimetre or so above the top of the 10.
His wild roar in celebration signifying what it meant not only to win it but be back in the ultimatum of archery’s premier international circuit.
“I didn’t have any expectations coming in,” said Ellison on reflection. “I just wanted to stick to my game plan and keep the timing I had today, and it was good enough. I felt like I actually shot very well today, and my semi-final match against Mete [Gazoz] was one of the best I’ve had in years.”
“I hit the 10s when I needed 10s to tie or win sets. For the most part, I did that all day and when you’re tying a set every end and never really losing ground, it sets you up in good positions.”
“I’ve really felt good this back half of the year.”
As well as the best, Ellison, 36, was the oldest on stage today at the Nanjing Olympic Museum.
His semifinal counterparts were Thomas Chirault, 28, D’Almeida, 27, and Gazoz, 26, and even in the twilight of the career, the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist was a shining example in the afternoon that form is temporary, class is permanent.
