Mila Fremery Delestan Shines in Stunning World Cup Debut in Puebla
The French national archery team has a latest star on the rise. Mila Fremery Delestan, a youth standout who only recently broke into the senior ranks, delivered a commanding performance at the opening stage of the 2026 Archery World Cup in Puebla, Mexico, signaling a potential shift in the hierarchy of women’s recurve archery.
Facing challenging, windy conditions that tested even the most seasoned veterans, the 19-year-old from Nîmes fought her way to a sixth-place finish. For a debutant on the senior international stage, the result is more than just a strong start. it is a confirmation of the form she displayed during the national selection trials in March.
A Trial by Fire in Puebla
Fremery Delestan did not enter the knockout stages as a favorite. After the qualification round, she was ranked 13th, a position that forced her to take the difficult path through the bracket. However, the Nîmoise used that underdog status to fuel a series of gritty performances.
Her run began with a decisive 6-2 victory over Turkey’s Canse Duru Tarakci. She followed that by eliminating Ana Vazquez of Mexico, a Paris 2024 Olympic team medalist, with a 7-3 win. The victory over Vazquez, competing on her home soil, served as the highlight of Fremery Delestan’s tournament, proving she could handle the pressure of high-stakes matchups.
The journey eventually ended in the quarterfinals, where she fell to China’s Yuwei Huang. Despite the loss, finishing sixth in her first senior World Cup appearance marks one of the most successful debuts for a French youth archer in recent memory.
From Compiègne Surprise to World Stage
To understand the magnitude of this performance, one must appear back to the French recurve selection trials held from March 17-20 in Compiègne. In a result that sent shockwaves through the French archery community, Fremery Delestan topped the women’s selection.
Most notably, she finished ahead of Lisa Barbelin, the Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist and one of the most established figures in the sport. While the result was viewed as a surprise at the time, Fremery Delestan attributed her success to a disciplined mental approach.
“To best approach this selection, I worked a lot on my mental approach and confidence, which helped me step onto the shooting line feeling calm and determined,” Fremery Delestan said following the trials. “Above all, I focused on having as much fun as possible while shooting my arrows.”
This mental fortitude is not new to her. Before her senior breakthrough, she had already established a pedigree in the youth circuits, claiming silver in the under-18 category at the 2022 European Youth Championships and winning the 2023 Indoor Archery World Series Youth Finals in the under-21 division.
Mixed Results for the French Contingent
While Fremery Delestan stole the spotlight, the wider French squad experienced the volatility of the Puebla event. Baptiste Addis provided another bright spot for the Arc club de Nîmes. Addis dominated the qualification round, finishing first and placing himself ahead of several top-five world-ranked archers.
However, the knockout rounds proved more difficult for Addis. He was eliminated in the round of 16 by Taiwan’s Chih-Chun Tang, ultimately finishing 11th in the individual standings. He did find some redemption in the team event, where he helped secure a fourth-place finish.
Other members of the French squad, including veteran Olympians like Lisa Barbelin and Caroline Lopez, faced more difficult conditions in Puebla, as the sustained winds disrupted the rhythm of several representatives.
Quick Look: Mila Fremery Delestan’s Puebla Path
| Stage | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifications | N/A | 13th Place |
| Early Round | Canse Duru Tarakci (TUR) | Win (6-2) |
| Intermediate Round | Ana Vazquez (MEX) | Win (7-3) |
| Quarter-finals | Yuwei Huang (CHN) | Loss |
What This Means for the French Team
The emergence of Fremery Delestan adds significant depth to a French women’s recurve team that has already seen immense success at the Olympic level. By integrating a youth talent who can perform under pressure in windy conditions, France enters the next phase of the 2026 season with a more versatile roster.
For the global archery community, the “Nîmoise” is now a name to watch. Her ability to transition from youth dominance to senior competitiveness in a matter of months suggests a ceiling that is still very high.
The Road Ahead: Antalya and Beyond
The French team will not have much time to dwell on the results in Puebla. The next major checkpoint is the European Outdoor Championships in Antalya, Turkey, scheduled for May. The six-person squad—including Fremery Delestan, Barbelin, and Lopez on the women’s side, and Addis, Thomas Chirault, and Jean-Charles Valladont for the men—will look to translate their individual momentum into continental medals.
the World Cup circuit continues with a stop in Shanghai, where archers like Alexis Renaudineau and Jean-Charles Valladont are expected to compete.
Do you think Mila Fremery Delestan is the next great hope for French archery? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
