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Schloesser makes history with European title, career grand slam

11 June 2022

Munich, Germany

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Mike Schloesser confirms his individual European outdoor title at Munich 2022

Compound men’s world number one Mike Schloesser took his first continental title to complete the first-ever career grand slam as Isabelle Carpenter of Great Britain took a surprise win over France’s Sophie Dodemont to win compound women’s gold at the 2022 European Championships in Munich today.

“Before I came here I wanted this really bad and in the end I made it,” said Schloesser just moments after his 148-146 individual victory, in a stark change of tune to a casual quote after eliminations where he downplayed the importance of this title.

“I’m very satisfied, I’m really happy and I worked really hard for it. I’m just really stoked because this is something that’s been on my list for a couple of years now. It's the first time I’ve done it.”

Mister Perfect defeated Yakup Yildiz, 148-146, in an exceptional display in the temporary arena built under the Bavaria statue in the Theresienwiese, the home of Munich’s famous Oktoberfest.

The result means Schloesser is the first archer to win all four of archery’s biggest endemic titles – the world championships, a continental championships, the Hyundai Archery World Cup and the Indoor Archery World Series – and complete the grand slam.

Both Schloesser and Carpenter had a chance at European titles in Munich today, too. While Schloesser’s Netherlands fell short to an exceptional Turkish compound men’s team – also featuring Yildiz – that finished with three straight perfect ends of 60 points, Carpenter and the British compound women beat Italy for the compound women’s team gold medal.

Denmark won the compound mixed team event.

The British compound women, featuring Paralympic Champion Jess Stretton, celebrate a European title.

Mike Schloesser has continued his ridiculous run of results this season.

Izzy Carpenter produced a winning performance in her European Championship debut.

Robin Jaatma and Jozef Bosansky went to a shoot-off for compound men’s bronze.

Stephan Hansen raised his hands in celebration before his arrow had landed.

Schloesser faced Turkish defending champion Yakup Yildiz in the final.

The first arrows of the compound men’s final didn’t make it look like things would go Schloesser’s way. The world number one opened with a nine, while Yildiz shot with a perfect 30 points – and fought all the way as he tried to retain the European title he won on home soil in Antalya last year.

“My first arrow was left and I even gave it some clicks before I shot but it wasn’t enough,” revealed Schloesser. “For the rest, I felt like I had a really good groove and I’m happy about it.”

Mister Perfect was determined not to give Yildiz a repeat of the morning’s team final.

“I didn’t win against him earlier so it was indeed some motivation for this final match,” said Schloesser with a smile on his face.

Retired Dutch Olympian Sjef van den Berg, who was commentating on the world feed broadcast, compared his former teammate to tennis legend Roger Federer, saying that the 28-year-old was “so dominant and consistent and has been for a long time”.

“At the moment, he is the greatest archer out there,” added Sjef.

If the compound men’s final was the continuation of an already established legacy, the compound women’s final was entirely the opposite. Championship debutant Isabelle Carpenter took down 48-year-old Sophie Dodemont, 143-141, after the first end saw the 23-year-old Brit go ahead, 29-27, and never look back.

“This is absolutely amazing, this is my first senior European Championship so even to be here I’m just so happy,” said Carpenter after securing individual gold. “The more matches I shot and the further I got through I realised, ‘okay, I could actually make this final’. I never ever thought this would happen, honestly.”

Estonia’s Robin Jaatma and Turkey’s Ayse Bera Suzer won the bronze medals.

Jaatma squeaked onto his podium spot. He shot first in a tiebreak for third place, delivering a wide 10 and shaking his head before Slovakia’s Jozef Bosansky went even wider with a nine – after an almost-perfect match had ended at 148 points apiece.

Estonia – represented by Robin and Lisell Jaatma – had come up just short in the compound mixed team final, despite a late surge, to a Danish pairing featuring last year’s compound women’s European Champion Tanja Gellenthien, who took solace in the podium after a letting-down mishap during eliminations caused a miss and cost her a shot at defending her individual title.

“It’s nice to grab another title and we’re really happy to be here and shoot some good arrows,” she said. “It’s always nice to have chances at a podium.”

Great Britain’s compound women’s team winner featured wheelchair archer and winner of the W1 event at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Jess Stretton, making her debut at this type of event.

“I’m not going to lie, I never really envisioned myself to even get to an able-bodied championships,” said Stretton before looking towards teammates Carpenter and Ella Gibson. “So to be here and medal with these two wonderful ladies, it’s just surreal really.”

Competition concludes tomorrow in Munich with recurve finals day.