10 archers to watch at the 2019 World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid

The entry list at the 2019 World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid is diverse.

For many, it’s a first-time trip abroad representing their country. For some, it’s a chance to step up from continental events. And for the few already established internationally – at youth or senior level – Madrid means a shot at medals before they age out.

(There are two age categories at the World Archery Youth Championships. Junior athletes are under 21; cadets are under 18.)

Below are 10 competitors to keep an eye on during this week’s competition. We’ve left a number of top archers – like Alexis Ruiz, Mete Gazoz, Jessica Stretton, Tang Chih-Chun, Casey Kaufhold, Jack Williams and Tatiana Andreoli – off this list on purpose.

1. Anders Faugstad, Norway

Nineteen-year-old Anders Faugstad took a surprise individual silver medal at the 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships after shooting his way up the bracket from the 68th seed. It was Norway’s first world championship medal in 14 years.

Faugstad finished 33rd at the youth championships in Rosario two years ago.

2. Karyna Kazlouskaya, Belarus 

Billed as the best Belarusian hope for a medal at the country’s home European Games earlier this summer, Karyna Kazlouskaya ended up finishing a respectable seventh individually in Minsk. 

The 19-year-old was pivotal, though, in the silver medal won by the recurve women’s team from Belarus at that tournament.

3. Bryan Alvarado, Puerto Rico

Bryan Alvarado won the compound cadet gold medal and Puerto Rico’s first-ever world championship title in Rosario two years ago. He’s shooting in the junior age group in Madrid.

4. Ella Gibson, Great Britain

One of the young British compound women who has been so successful on the senior circuit this summer. Ella Gibson was the female half of the gold-medal-winning mixed team in Berlin – and won the European Youth Cup in Romania, individually, last month.

5. Waka Sonoda, Japan

At 17 years old, Waka Sonoda has shot for the Japanese senior squad in Medellin, Shanghai, ’s-Hertogenbosch and the Olympic test event back home in Tokyo so far this year.

6. Trenton Cowles, USA

The reigning Youth Olympic Champion after taking gold in Buenos Aires at the end of 2018. Trenton Cowles is still shooting as a cadet in Madrid. 

7. Lisell and Robin Jaatma, Estonia

This sibling duo had Estonia’s best showing at a Universiade only a couple of weeks ago. Lisell and Robin Jaatma took compound mixed team gold in a shoot-off – in which they drilled a pair of 10s.

8. Gijs Broeksma, Netherlands

Known for his antics on the Triple Trouble youtube channel. Shooting his third consecutive World Archery Youth Championships – but Gijs Broeksma is arriving at the event with senior international experience under his belt for the first time.

9. Amanda Mlinaric, Croatia

A highly decorated cadet archer. Now shooting as a junior, 18-year-old Amanda Mlinaric already made world headlines by breaking the European junior record to lead qualification at the Hyundai Archery World Cup stage in Antalya this season.

10. Elia Canales, Spain

Possibly Spain’s best medal hope at these home championships? Elia Canales was the cadet silver medallist at the Youth Olympic Games last autumn – and has ascended to the Spanish senior squad since, too. She’s shooting in the junior competition in Madrid.

The 2019 World Archery Youth Championships takes place on 19-25 August in Madrid, Spain.