Multiple medalist and finalist on the Indoor World Series circuit, including a very good victory in Taipei last year, Victoria Sebastian confirmed her progress by winning at home this Sunday the 2026 edition of the Nîmes Archery Tournament. She is ahead of Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, Lisa Barbelin, on the last step of the podium in this category.
Among the boys, the competition was more complicated since the Nîmes Jean-Charles Valladont and Batiste Addis, silver medalists at the 2024 Olympics, respectively lost in the round of 16 and in qualifying.
The Nîmes Archery Tournament is an essential stage of the Indoor World Series where the best archers on the planet come to compete over several days (photo: David Andrieu).
The Nîmes Archery Tournament: an unmissable global archery event
Considered one of the most prestigious indoor competitions in the world, the Nîmes Archery Tournament brings together the best archers on the planet. With more than 1,300 athletes from nearly 50 countries, it is one of the most anticipated events of the Indoor World Series. In a melting Parnassus, the 2026 edition was a success with sometimes very close encounters and a fiery atmosphere!
A beautiful final with a very close score between two great champions: Andres Mediel Temino and Wei Chun-Heng. In the end, it was the Spaniard who narrowly won the victory with an arrow in the shoot-off (photo: David Andrieu).
The mastery and talent of Victoria Sebastian
After a brilliant run in the final stages, Victoria Sebastian faced the strong Mexican Angela Ruiz in the final. Quickly led at the start of the match (30-28), the Nîmese remained focused and determined. By reversing the game in the last three high-quality ends (30-29, 30-28 and 29-28), she won one of the major tournaments on the circuit on home soil. A great victory which confirms his progress and his talent. We will have to count on the resident of the Arc Club de Nîmes in future years.
Note the great competition from Lisa Barbelin who won a nice bronze medal in this category.
Bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Lisa Barbelin won the same place at the Nîmes Archery Tournament 2026 (photo: David Andrieu).
Boys in trouble
After the premature eliminations of the Nîmes champions and Olympic medalists, Jean-Charles Valladont and Baptiste Addis, hopes rested on the Frenchman Alexandre Demesery for a bronze medal. Dominated during the first and last ends, he was unable to reach the podium even if his performance in the tournament was remarkable.
Very good performance by Frenchman Alexandre Demesery who finished at the foot of the podium in his category (photo: David Andrieu).
A very successful 2026 edition
The Nîmes Archery Tournament is always an unmissable sporting and popular event. Even if the French record could be improved, the performance of the archers should be highlighted. And the archery festival was beautiful! See you next year to relive the thrills and emotions of a discipline that deserves to be in the spotlight, and not just during the Olympic Games…
Victoria Sebastian, the winner in the center and Lisa Barbelin, third in the category, on the right. Two French women on an international podium, that’s a pleasure!
Text and photographs: David Andrieu
