Three Refugee Archers Train in Lausanne With Olympic Dreams

Three young refugee athletes in Lausanne, Switzerland, are training intensively to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics in archery, a journey that underscores how sport can transform lives. According to World Archery, the governing body, the athletes—all under 25—represent a growing trend of refugee competitors leveraging Olympic qualification pathways to rebuild their futures.

The trio, who arrived in Switzerland through resettlement programs, began their archery training under the guidance of the Swiss Archery Federation and local coaches affiliated with Lausanne’s archery clubs. Their story gained attention after being featured in Swiss media, including RTS, which documented their daily routines—early morning practice sessions at the Lausanne Archery Center, technical drills focusing on form and consistency, and mental preparation workshops led by sports psychologists.

The athletes’ path to Paris hinges on two critical deadlines: the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournament, scheduled for March 2024 in Antalya, Turkey, and the World Archery Ranking cutoffs, which will determine automatic qualification spots. As of October 2023, none of the three athletes have secured a direct qualification slot, but their coaches emphasize that their rapid improvement—one athlete ranked 147th globally in recurve archery as of September—could place them in contention by next year.

Why Their Story Matters Beyond the Olympics

The athletes’ journey reflects a broader initiative by UNHCR and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to provide refugee athletes with pathways to Olympic competition. Since the 2016 Rio Games, where a refugee team competed for the first time, 38 refugee athletes have participated in Olympic sports, with archery emerging as one of the most accessible disciplines for newcomers due to its relatively low equipment costs and universal appeal.

“Archery is unique because it doesn’t require a massive physical build or expensive gear,” said Marko Veselica, a former Croatian Olympic archer now coaching in Lausanne. “It’s about precision, patience, and mental resilience—qualities that translate directly to rebuilding a life after displacement.” Veselica’s program, supported by local sponsors including Lausanne Tourism, provides the athletes with training equipment, nutritional support, and language classes to integrate into Swiss society.

How They’re Training: A Day in the Life

The athletes’ daily regimen follows a structured schedule designed to balance technical skill development with the emotional demands of high-pressure competition. According to their coaches, a typical week includes:

• Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 6:00–8:00 AM: Form drills at the Lausanne Archery Center (focus on grip and release consistency).
• Tuesday/Thursday: 4:00–6:00 PM: Endurance and shooting stamina sessions at the EPFL sports complex in nearby Ecublens.
• Saturday: Full simulation rounds under tournament conditions, including mental preparation exercises led by sports psychologist Dr. Elena Meier of the University of Lausanne.
• Sunday: Rest day with light mobility work and cultural integration activities (e.g., Swiss German language classes).

The athletes also participate in local competitions to gain experience. In September 2023, one of the trio placed 12th in the Swiss National Archery Championships, a result their coaches called “a breakthrough moment.” “This wasn’t just about the score,” Veselica noted. “It was the first time they competed in front of a crowd that didn’t know their background.”

Challenges: From Displacement to the Olympic Stage

The road to Paris isn’t just about archery skills—it’s about overcoming systemic barriers. The athletes face three primary hurdles:

1. Funding: While Swiss Archery covers basic training costs, travel to international competitions requires additional sponsorship. The IOC’s Refugee Athlete Scholarship Fund has allocated CHF 50,000 to support their participation in the 2024 qualification tournaments, but coaches say more is needed for long-term preparation.
2. Integration: Two of the athletes arrived in Switzerland in 2022 and are still learning French, the primary language of instruction in Lausanne. “Archery is a universal language, but the paperwork, the medical forms, the psychological support—it’s all in French,” said Aisha Mohammed, a social worker at the Swiss Asylum Office.
3. Mental Health: The pressure to qualify while adjusting to a new country is immense. “They’ve lost everything twice—first their homes, then their identities,” Meier explained. “Now they’re being asked to perform at an elite level. That’s a heavy load.”

To address these challenges, the Lausanne program has partnered with Swiss Red Cross to provide trauma-informed mental health support. “We’re not just training archers,” Veselica said. “We’re helping them rebuild their sense of agency.”

What Happens Next: The Path to Paris

The athletes’ next major milestone is the 2024 World Cup stage in Bangkok, Thailand (February 1–4, 2024), where top performances could earn them ranking points critical for Olympic qualification. If they secure a top-10 finish in Bangkok, they’ll automatically qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Antalya.

Beyond archery, the athletes are also exploring long-term opportunities. “Many refugee athletes don’t have a clear path after the Olympics,” said Claire Dubois, head of the IOC Athlete Career Program. “We’re working with Lausanne’s universities to connect them with sports science or coaching degrees—fields where their experience could be an asset.”

How to Follow Their Journey

Fans and supporters can track the athletes’ progress through:

• World Archery Rankings (updated monthly).
• Swiss Archery Federation updates (official program announcements).
• UNHCR Refugee Athlete Portal (stories and interviews).
• The Lausanne Archery Center’s Instagram page (training highlights and athlete spotlights).

The athletes plan to share their personal stories through a documentary film in partnership with Swiss Info, set to premiere in early 2024. “We want people to see that behind the arrows, there are lives being rebuilt,” one of the athletes said in a recent interview.