Brady Ellison Triumphs as China Dominates Recurve Finals at 2026 Archery World Cup in Puebla
The inaugural stage of the 2026 Archery World Cup concluded in Puebla, Mexico, with a high-stakes final day that saw American veteran Brady Ellison claim individual gold and the Chinese national team assert a dominant presence across multiple recurve categories.
Day 6 of the competition was dedicated entirely to the recurve individual and team finals, following the conclusion of the compound events on Saturday. The atmosphere in Puebla reached a fever pitch as the world’s elite archers battled for the first major titles of the season, resulting in a mixed bag of results for the United States and a nearly flawless run for China.
Ellison Secures Individual Gold in Tight Final
Brady Ellison continued his storied career by capturing the men’s individual recurve title. In a tense final match, Ellison defeated Taiwan’s Tang Chih-Chun with a score of 6-4. The victory reinforces Ellison’s position as a premier force in international archery, adding another gold to a resume that already includes multiple World Championships and Olympic medals.
Rounding out the men’s individual podium was Turkey’s Mete Gazoz, who secured a third-place finish. For Ellison, the individual gold was the crown jewel of a productive weekend in Mexico, though he faced mixed fortunes in the team events.
USA Edges Turkey in Men’s Team Thriller
The men’s team event provided the most dramatic moment of the closing day. Team USA faced off against Turkey in a final that remained undecided until the very last arrow. The match was decided by a narrow margin in a high-pressure shoot-off, with the United States ultimately prevailing to take the gold.
This victory highlighted the depth of the American recurve squad, providing a crucial counterweight to the dominance seen in the women’s and mixed categories.
Chinese Sweep: Dominance in Women’s and Mixed Events
While the U.S. Found success in the men’s categories, China dominated the rest of the recurve field. The Chinese contingent secured two of the three team titles and swept the women’s individual podium.
- Women’s Individual: In an all-Chinese final, Zhu Jingyi defeated teammate Qi Yu to claim the gold medal.
- Women’s Team: China delivered a commanding performance in the team final, shutting out Turkey with a decisive 6-0 victory.
- Mixed Team: The duo of Zhu Jingyi and Sun Jingxuan continued their momentum, defeating the American pair of Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison 5-1 to take the title.
For Brady Ellison, the mixed team result was a silver-medal finish, marking his second-place effort in that specific category for the event.
Compound Highlights and Early Results
While the final day focused on recurve, the competition had already crowned its compound champions on Saturday. Sara Lopez and Mathias Fullerton emerged as the victors in the individual compound events, setting the tone for the tournament’s opening weekend.
The Legacy of Brady Ellison
Ellison’s victory in Puebla is a testament to a career defined by consistency and longevity. A native of Glendale, Arizona, born in 1988, Ellison has represented the United States across five Summer Olympic Games between 2008 and 2024.
His Olympic medal haul includes silver in the team event at London 2012 and Rio 2016, an individual bronze in Rio 2016 and most recently, an individual silver and mixed team bronze at the Paris 2024 Games. Beyond the Olympics, Ellison has earned seven medals at the Outdoor World Archery Championships (2011–2025) and five medals at the Indoor World Archery Championships (2009–2016), alongside ten World Cup Final medals.
For those following his professional journey, official updates and career milestones are maintained via the Official Site of Brady Ellison.
Puebla 2026: Key Results Summary
| Event | Gold Medalist | Score/Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Individual Recurve | Brady Ellison (USA) | 6-4 vs Tang Chih-Chun |
| Women’s Individual Recurve | Zhu Jingyi (CHN) | Defeated Qi Yu (CHN) |
| Men’s Team Recurve | Team USA | Won via shoot-off vs Turkey |
| Women’s Team Recurve | Team China | 6-0 vs Turkey |
| Mixed Team Recurve | Zhu Jingyi / Sun Jingxuan (CHN) | 5-1 vs Kaufhold / Ellison (USA) |
| Individual Compound | Sara Lopez / Mathias Fullerton | Champions |
With the inaugural stage in Puebla now complete, the 2026 Archery World Cup season is officially underway. Athletes will now seem toward the subsequent stages of the circuit as they refine their form and chase overall rankings for the year.
Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates on the World Cup circuit and qualification milestones for upcoming international competitions. Share your thoughts on Ellison’s victory in the comments below.
