Julie Pelle, a 27-year-old French gendarme, won the world championship in team archery at the 2023 World Archery Championships in Leipzig, Germany, securing a 5-4 victory over South Korea in the final, according to World Archery records. The win marked France’s first team gold in the event since 2015, highlighting Pelle’s dual role as a professional athlete and member of the Gendarmerie Nationale.
Team Victory in Leipzig
The French team, comprising Pelle, Anne-Cécile Hocquard, and Mégane Lévêque, delivered a tense final against South Korea, with the score tied 5-5 after the first 12 arrows before Pelle’s final shot clinched the win, per World Archery’s official match report. The competition, held July 29, 2023, at the Messe Leipzig, featured 64 nations and saw France advance through the knockout stages without losing a single match, according to Reuters.
Pelle’s performance underscored her reputation as one of the sport’s most consistent competitors. She had previously won silver in the individual recurve event at the 2022 World Championships, according to the International Archery Federation (IAF). The team’s victory also marked the first time a French archery squad had claimed gold in the World Championships’ team event since 2015, when the men’s team won in Copenhagen.
Pelle’s Dual Career as Gendarme and Archer
As a member of the Gendarmerie Nationale, Pelle balances her archery career with her duties as a law enforcement officer. She joined the gendarmerie in 2016 after graduating from the École Nationale de la Gendarmerie, according to the official Gendarmerie website. Her dual commitment has drawn attention in France, where athletes in public service roles are rare in elite sports.
“Julie embodies the values of discipline and perseverance that define both our profession and the Olympic spirit,” said Gendarmerie Chief Inspector François Dufresne in a statement cited by French news outlet France 3. Pelle’s success has also inspired younger gendarmes to pursue competitive sports, with the Gendarmerie announcing a new initiative to support officers in elite athletics later in 2023.
Impact on French Archery
The victory elevated France’s status in international archery, where the sport has historically been dominated by South Korea, China, and the United States. France’s team gold came after a 10-year hiatus, with the last title won by the men’s squad in 2015. The win also boosted the country’s medal count at the 2023 Championships, where France finished third overall with three golds, two silvers, and one bronze, according to the IAF.
Archery officials highlighted the significance of Pelle’s achievement. “This win is a testament to the growth of archery in France and the dedication of our athletes,” said World Archery President Peter Holmberg in a press release. The French Archery Federation (FFA) has since announced a €2 million investment in youth development programs, aiming to expand the sport’s reach beyond its traditional strongholds in the southeast of the country.
What’s Next for the French Team
The French team is set to compete in the 2024 European Archery Championships in Minsk, Belarus, with Pelle expected to lead the squad. The event, scheduled for April 2024, will serve as a key preparatory tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where archery will be held at the Esplanade des Invalides. Pelle’s participation in the Olympics is pending confirmation, as she must meet the French Olympic Committee’s qualification criteria, according to the FFA.
Meanwhile, Pelle plans to continue her service with the Gendarmerie Nationale, stating in a recent interview with Le Mans.maville.com that “my role as a gendarme is just as important as my career as an archer. Both require focus, integrity, and a commitment to excellence.”
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