Featured Athlete: Stephan HANSEN

Born on 19 June 1995, the Danish archer showed promises in 2011 when he won his first major international honour – the cadet world champion title – at the age of 16.

In 2013, HANSEN made a spectacular entry on the senior scene for his first season. In March, he won the bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships. In his first World Cup event – in Antalya in June – he contributed to the Danish team’s historic gold-medal victory over the United States. N°1 ranked team in the world, made of the famous archers Braden GELLENTHIEN, Reo WILDE and Rodger WILLETT Jr., the United States had won all recent encounters with Denmark and initially led the final. However HANSEN associated with Martin DAMSBO and Patrick LAURSEN delivered six 10s in the third end to take the lead before the final six arrows. They concluded the match with 10-10-10 for a victory 230-225 and a well-deserved gold medal.

Shortly after Antalya, on 23 June 2013, HANSEN shot 712 points in a competition in Norway, for a new junior world record, only two points from the senior record. Stephan’s score was also a new European senior record.

There was more to come in 2013. In October at the World Archery Championships Stephan HANSEN, DAMSBO and LAURSEN repeated the success they had during the Antalya World Cup. After edging out the five-time defending-champion United States in the eliminations rounds, the Danes were superb in their final against South Africa. HANSEN – at only 18 years old – outscored DAMSBO, this year’s World Cup Final winner, and LAURSEN, individual champion at the Antalya World Cup, by shooting nothing but 10s in the final. It was Denmark’s first World Championships gold medal since 1950 – when the country’s recurve men were champions – and the country’s first ever compound gold.

Only a week later, in the Chinese city of Wuxi, Stephan HANSEN shot his way to the top of the individual junior podium at the World Youth Championships, with a final victory over the experienced Indian archer Rajat CHAUHAN.

Visit Stephan’s Facebook athlete page and go to his biography.

World Archery Communication