Healey’s perfect final wins Nîmes

Penny Healey shot 12 perfect arrows in the dramatic Nîmes arena to beat Lucilla Boari in four sets and collect the recurve women’s title at the first Indoor Archery World Series event of 2025.

Brady Ellison, Alejandra Usquiano and Nico Wiener won the other championship events.

It was Healey’s composure under the customarily contrasting spotlight in the south of France that headlined this afternoon’s slate of finals. Shooting first, she kept her head as Boari matched her, arrow for arrow, in the first set and remained cool when the Italian dropped her fourth arrow just low and left in the nine.

“I don’t know what just happened,” said Healey after leaving the arena. “I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.”

“Mind blown right now.”

Healey won the Indoor Archery Series Finals in 2022 and then came third in Nîmes in 2023. This is her first international 18-metre podium since.

Brady Ellison converted his top seed in the recurve men’s event to the top spot on the podium. The reigning Indoor Archery World Series Champion previously won this event in 2020.

“I love this crowd,” said the Olympic runner-up. “There’s so much energy in this room. It’s one of the best events there is.”

Alejandra Usquiano went back-to-back victor in France, this time beating Jyothi Surekha Vennam, 147-146, while former World Archery Champion Nico Wiener dispatched emerging Indian Rishabh Yadav, 149-148, for his first-ever indoor podium.

The Indoor Archery World Series continues in February with the brand-new Great Chicago Open.