The Late Bloom: Alexandre Desemery’s Remarkable Rise to the French National Team

In the high-precision world of recurve archery, where peak performance is often associated with a lifetime of disciplined youth training, Alexandre Desemery is defying the traditional timeline. At 47 years traditional, the French archer has transitioned from flying “under the radar” to earning a high-profile call-up for the European Indoor Championships.

Desemery’s ascent reached a fever pitch during the Nimes Archery Tournament, where he transformed from an unknown entity into a giant-killer. In a performance that stunned the crowd at Le Parnasse Hall, Desemery navigated a bracket filled with the sport’s elite, proving that his age is an asset of experience rather than a limitation of athleticism.

The Nimes Breakthrough

The Nimes tournament served as the catalyst for Desemery’s sudden visibility on the international stage. His run to the bronze medal match was defined by a series of upsets against some of the most decorated names in the game. Most notably, Desemery secured a standout 7-3 victory over six-time Olympian Brady Ellison.

The momentum continued as he defeated Moritz Wieser, a German men’s team gold medallist from the Paris 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup, with a score of 6-4, and edged out Nicholas D’Amour, the Lancaster Archery Classic champion, 6-5.

While Desemery eventually fell 6-4 to silver medallist Wei Chun-Heng in the semifinals, he fought his way to the bronze medal match. There, he faced the new world number one, Marcus D’Almeida, ultimately losing 7-3. Despite the loss, the result solidified his status as a legitimate contender in the recurve men’s category.

A Non-Linear Journey

Desemery’s path to the national team was far from a straight line. His history with the bow began at age 11 with a recurve course, but he later transitioned to compound archery. However, the most significant gap in his competitive history was a 25-year hiatus from the sport.

The road back began in North America. Desemery reacquainted himself with archery in Canada, dedicating himself to the sport once more before returning to France. His first foray back into the international spotlight occurred two years ago at the 2024 Vegas Shoot, though he admits he didn’t envision his current success at that time.

“Two years ago? No, definitely not,” Desemery said regarding his Nimes performance. “I always knew I had some good potential in me. I felt it when I was a kid shooting, and I always regretted a little bit not pushing further as a teenager and young adult to see how far I could go. But that’s life.”

The Architecture of a Comeback

Now based in the Paris region and shooting for Issy-les-Moulineaux, Desemery has paired his natural potential with professional guidance. He is currently trained by Jocelyn De Grandis, a well-known figure in French archery. The partnership has already shown strong chemistry on the shooting line, providing the stability needed to translate raw talent into tournament results.

For those unfamiliar with the sport’s demographics, Desemery is approaching the age of eligibility for the 50+ category. However, his recent form suggests he is more than capable of competing—and winning—against athletes decades his junior. As Desemery noted, the element of surprise has been a powerful tool: “Before, I flew under the radar. Now? People are watching.”

His selection for the European Indoor Championships, announced on January 27, 2026, marks the official validation of his “crazy ascent.”

Key Performance Milestones at Nimes

To understand the scale of Desemery’s impact at the Nimes Archery Tournament, a look at his key matchups provides necessary context:

• vs. Brady Ellison: Won 7-3 (Standout victory over a 6-time Olympian)
• vs. Moritz Wieser: Won 6-4 (Defeated a World Cup gold medallist)
• vs. Nicholas D’Amour: Won 6-5 (Defeated the Lancaster Archery Classic champion)
• vs. Wei Chun-Heng: Lost 6-4 (Semifinals)
• vs. Marcus D’Almeida: Lost 7-3 (Bronze medal match against world number one)

The combination of a 25-year break and a late-career pivot back to recurve makes this one of the more unusual trajectories in modern archery. It serves as a reminder that the mental fortitude and precision required for the sport can be cultivated and reclaimed regardless of the gap in competition.

Desemery now looks toward the European Indoor Championships as his next major checkpoint, where he will represent France on the continental stage. Whether he can maintain this momentum against a field that is no longer surprised by his presence will be the next great test of his career.

Do you think age provides a psychological advantage in high-pressure archery matches? Let us know in the comments.