Les Nîmoises have claimed the French Archery Championship title, while the Nîmois secured a bronze medal at the 2023 French Archery Championships, according to official results and team statements. The victory marks a significant milestone for the Nîmes archery program, which has historically been a competitive force in regional competitions but had not previously won the national title.
What Happened at the French Archery Championship?
The 2023 French Archery Championships, held from October 12–15 in Lyon, France, saw the Nîmoises women’s team dominate the team event, defeating the Paris-based Équipe Île-de-France 2450–2425 in the final. The Nîmois men’s team earned bronze after a 2380–2365 loss to the Marseille squad in the third-place playoff, according to the French Archery Federation (FFTA) press release.
The women’s victory was fueled by standout performances from veteran archer Marine Dubois, who scored a tournament-high 615 points in the individual rankings, and emerging talent Léa Moreau, who posted a 608-point score. The Nîmois men’s team, led by captain Luc Thomas, secured their bronze medal through a strong showing in the recurve team event, where they averaged 793 points per round.
The FFTA confirmed the results through its official competition database, which lists the Nîmoises as champions and the Nîmois as bronze medalists. Both teams advanced to the national championships after winning regional qualifiers in September.
Why Does This Matter for Nîmes Archery?
This achievement represents a breakthrough for Nîmes, a city with a growing archery culture but limited national success in recent decades. The Nîmoises’ title ends a 12-year drought for the region, as the last Nîmes-based team to win a national title was the men’s squad in 2011.
“This victory is a testament to the hard work of our athletes and the support of the local community,” said Nîmes Archery Club president Sophie Lefevre in a statement. “It’s a moment we’ve been working toward for years.”
The win also elevates the profile of archery in the Gard department, where the Nîmoises are based. The club reported a 40% increase in youth registrations following the championship, according to a press release from the Nîmes Municipal Sports Office.
What Are the Implications for Future Competitions?
The Nîmoises’ national title qualifies them for the 2024 European Archery Championships, scheduled for May in Wroclaw, Poland. The team’s performance also positions them as strong contenders for the 2024 French Indoor Archery Championships, which will be held in December in Lyon.
The Nîmois men’s team, meanwhile, will aim to build on their bronze medal finish. Their third-place finish in Lyon secured them a spot in the 2024 Coupe de France, a domestic cup competition that features top teams from across the country.
FFTA technical director Marc Lemoine noted that the Nîmoises’ victory reflects broader trends in French archery. “The rise of regional teams like Nîmes is reshaping the competitive landscape,” Lemoine said in an interview. “It shows that talent is spreading beyond traditional powerhouses like Paris and Lyon.”
How Did the Nîmoises and Nîmois Prepare for the Championship?
The Nîmoises trained at the Centre National d’Entraînement en Tir à l’Arc (CNETA) in Chambéry, where they underwent a six-week intensive program focusing on mental resilience and technical precision. The team’s coach, Éric Moreau, emphasized the importance of adapting to the unique conditions of the Lyon venue, which features a higher altitude than their home range in Nîmes.
The Nîmois men’s team, by contrast, focused on improving their
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