Brady breaks 15-year indoor world record

Brady Ellison dropped just two shots out of the 10-ring on the 60-arrow, 18-metre ranking round to score 598 out of 600 points and break a world record that had stood since 2001 during the first stage of the 2016/17 Indoor Archery World Cup in Marrakesh, Morocco.

“I am kind of still in shock. I’ve been shooting my bow for seven days. I threw this bow together. I have a blood blister on my middle finger. I just came here to try to get some points,” said Ellison, the men’s bronze medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“I was strictly thinking timing today. I knew the only thing to create a good score would be timing. Don’t hold long, pull up there, look at the middle and just pull through the shot.”

“I was aiming well and I was aggressive, pulling through quick. I wasn’t really moving outside the 10 too much so it was really just let the sight settle and go. Don’t hesitate and don’t hold too long and just go. You’re not here to shoot a good score so just get some arrows down and get your form back.”

Michele Frangilli, who had held the record at 597, text Brady as soon as the news broke.

“He’s like: ‘Hey, good job, finally someone’s got it after 15 years’.”

Ellison had previously tied the record a number of times. What makes the extra point so much more significant in Marrakesh is that the score came just over a month after Ellison had significant surgery to reconstruct his left kneecap.

“I realised my knee is not ready for big pressure situations. The last three ends, it was swaying all over the place. It made things a little more interesting but I got lucky and got it done still,” he said.

Brady shot a perfect 300 points for the first 30 arrows. Both arrows he put in the nine came in the back half.

“I can’t believe how much our legs make a difference and never imagined that our legs are so important. My knee is weak right now; I throw my arm and I feel it in my knee – it’s giving on me. If everything’s good, you don’t notice it,” Ellison added.

“The first days back shooting, after 60 arrows it was hurting. I talked to my doctor and he said it was all stabilisation. That’s your base.”

“Going forward, it’s definitely going to be a focus of mine. I can’t believe I was able to shoot as good as it was, when I dislocated my knee at the Games, unless it was adrenaline. Makes me thankful I’ve had this surgery done.”

Following rehab, Brady only entered the tournament one week prior to get tournament practice, after taking time off after winning the World Archery Field Championships in early October.

“I’m hoping to be 100% or really close to 100% by Nimes,” Brady said.

“I think I’m going to be better than I have ever been once I get healthy.”

The first stage of the 2016/17 Indoor Archery World Cup runs 26/27 November 2016 in Marrakesh, Morocco.