Italy Dominates 2026 European Indoor Archery Championships in Plovdiv

Italy delivered a masterclass in precision and composure at the 2026 European Indoor Archery Championships, sweeping the medal table in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The Italian squad finished the tournament with a staggering 21 podium finishes, leaving the rest of the continent trailing in their wake.

Competing against more than 300 archers from 27 countries across Recurve, Compound, and Barebow divisions, the “Azzurri” secured 11 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze medals. This total was more than double the haul of the second-place finisher, Turkey, which claimed four golds, four silvers, and two bronzes. Ukraine rounded out the top three with three golds, one silver, and five bronzes.

The Compound Clash: Godano’s Golden Arrow

The senior men’s compound final provided one of the most electric moments of the championships. Michea Godano claimed the European title in a tension-filled battle against France’s Nicolas Girard. The two archers were locked in a dead heat, both finishing with 149 points after a sequence that saw them each fire 14 arrows into the 10-ring and only one into the 9-ring.

With the score tied through four 30-30 ends and one 29-29 complete, the match moved to a shoot-off. Both Godano and Girard hit the 10, but Godano’s arrow was closer to the absolute center, securing the gold medal for Italy.

The dominance extended to the Under-21 category, where Christian Maranto captured the junior compound title. Maranto’s victory was decided in a dramatic tie-break, further cementing Italy’s strength in the compound discipline. Still, the junior compound mixed team event saw Italy fall just short, taking the silver medal behind the gold-winning Turkish pair.

Barebow Brilliance and an All-Italian Final

In the barebow division, Italy showcased its depth with a gold-medal showdown between teammates. The women’s senior barebow final featured Linda Grezzani and Cinzia Noziglia, ensuring an Italian victory regardless of the outcome. Grezzani eventually edged out Noziglia in a 6-5 shoot-off, with a 9-9* finish deciding the gold.

The junior ranks likewise saw Italian success in barebow, as Giulio Locchi captured a gold medal and Eleonora Lai earned a bronze after a strong performance in the finals.

Recurve Results: Tight Contests and Team Efforts

While Italy dominated the overall standings, the recurve events were characterized by tight margins and fierce competition. In the senior individual recurve, Roberta Di Francesco took home the silver, while Federico Musolesi secured a bronze in the senior men’s division.

The team events saw Israel emerge as the primary force. Israel claimed the gold in both the senior men’s team recurve and the recurve mixed team event. Italy finished second in the men’s team standings and third in the mixed team event, trailing Israel and France.

Among the junior recurve archers, Emiliano Rampon added to Italy’s gold medal count, completing a comprehensive sweep across age groups and bow types.

For those unfamiliar with the format, “indoor” archery differs from outdoor events by utilizing shorter distances and smaller target faces, which places a premium on absolute consistency and mental fortitude.

Plovdiv 2026 Medal Summary

The scale of Italy’s victory is best viewed through the final standings of the top three nations:

The championships concluded on February 21, 2026, having showcased the elite talent of European archery. From the dramatic shoot-offs in the compound division to the tactical battles in recurve, the event highlighted Italy’s current status as the powerhouse of the sport in Europe.

For official results and further documentation, fans can visit the Federazione Italiana Tiro con L’Arco (FITARCO) or the Archery Europe results page.

With the indoor season now concluded, attention shifts to the outdoor circuit and the upcoming qualification events for the next major international championships.