Secrets to mixed team success: Insights from Olympic and Paralympic medallists
It’s only been four years since the mixed team format made its Olympic debut, at Tokyo 2020, a move that had been in the making for over 20.
Paris 2024 was only the second cycle in which the event featured, but its vibrancy and excitement in both Games has given it a sense of belonging in the Olympic programme well beyond its short life thus far.
Memorable moments include An San’s iconic ‘Robin hood’ shot – the term used to describe one arrow being split by another in the target – in the run up to winning the maiden mixed team gold in Tokyo, and the outpouring of emotions from Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison when they won the bronze in Paris.
But with only a handful of years to witness it, what is it like to compete in a mixed team match?
What makes this event so unique for the contenders themselves, and what strategies do the best archers use to succeed?
The intensity of mixed team
First off, mixed team archery is far quicker than the traditional men’s and women’s team events. With only 80 seconds to spare per team per set, it creates a fast paced environment, leaving little room for error.
“There is more pressure on your shots as you now make up 50 per cent of the total score,” said compound mixed team Paralympic gold medallist Jodie Grinham. “So, it’s a lot harder to come back from bad shots, and you don’t get as much time in between to reset yourself.”
The pressure of time and accuracy makes it one of the most mentally and physically demanding events. Shoot a poor shot and you have just mere seconds to get over it.
Five-time Olympian Ellison described the mixed team as the most difficult event due to constant adaptation of mind and added emotional dynamics between male and female archers.
“The hardest thing probably is just the aspect of the difference in men and women, and what emotions somebody needs at that time can be a lot more different than all men’s team and all women’s teams,” explained the recently crowned Indoor World Series Champion.
Quite often, mixed teams often consist of a country’s top two archers, with Ellison and Kaufhold certainly leading the light for their respective genders in the USA, winning six major international tournaments in the past year combined.
At any international event, where individual skill is already at a high level, mixed team competition brings added complexity, with all the other controllable and sometimes uncontrollable variables that come with team matches. The pressure is immense, as mistakes are twice as costly and affect not just the individual but also the team.
This expectation weighs upon the shoulders of all archers during a mixed team match including Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Alejandra Valencia, who reached the quarterfinals of Paris alongside Mexico’s 20-year-old Matias Grande and highlighted the challenge.
“I think that the hardest part is that it’s just two arrows,” said Valencia, who also claimed a mixed team silver at the Pan American Championships and gold in Yecheon in 2024, both with Grande. “Anybody can shoot two great arrows, and if you are talking about the best of the country, it’s a guarantee that they will shoot the best.”
“There’s no room for mistakes.”
The power of camaraderie
For many archers, mixed team events require a different dynamic than traditional team formats. Trust, communication and understanding between teammates become critical.
Gaby Schloesser, who won a silver medal for the Netherlands in the mixed team event at Tokyo 2020, reflected on the difference from her former experience in Mexican women’s team.
“I enjoyed shooting mixed team because we were really competitive,” she shared. “It was such a different dynamic than in Mexico, because in Mexico we had a women’s team.”
“It was also super cool I got to do it with archers that had my back; that gave me a bunch of confidence.”
Mixed team archery has been lauded since its incorporation into the Olympics as a symbol of growing gender equity within the sport, but it is also now a respected artform in its own right, requiring a mix of individual talent and teamwork.
As many archers emphasise, it appears that to be a successful mixed team, you must embrace the Confucian nature of it rather than stick to individual processes. Success hinges on fostering camaraderie and ensuring that individual mistakes don’t disrupt team morale.
Shooting a perfect score is important but camaraderie is key.
This also involves toning down any ego for the betterment of the team, to not let negative thoughts from a disappointing shot overbear the atmosphere and affect the support for a teammate.
It is obviously easier said than done, but Paris 2024 Paralympics mixed team bronze medallist and 18-year-old phenom Sheetal Devi stressed the importance of adapting to a teammate’s needs.
“The hardest thing about mixed teams is finding that perfect balance and chemistry between teammates,” claimed the Asian Para Games Champion. “It can take time to adjust to each other’s rhythms and shooting styles, and even small miscommunications can impact performance.”
“Additionally, managing individual expectations and egos can be challenging in a mixed team setting.”
Managing emotions and egos is indeed another crucial aspect of success. If a disappointing shot occurs, the ability to move on quickly and support a teammate is key. A mixed team thrives when both archers work towards a shared goal rather than focusing solely on individual performance.
Top tips from the pros
In the end, success in mixed team archery goes beyond hitting the perfect shot. It involves trusting your teammate, communicating under pressure and building a strong foundation of camaraderie that allows both archers to shine.
All athletes mentioned above have operated at a world class level of archery for several years, in the case of Ellison for almost two decades.
But if all five were behind the shooting line rather than on it, what practical advice would they give a mixed team looking to succeed, in a format still unknown to many?
Here’s what they recommend:
“Shoot the required amount of tens and you win!”
“Learn from each other, not just as an archer but as a person, but mostly enjoy it together.”
“Let your team know you trust them, not only with words but also by being calm and confident. Giving room to your teammates to do their work gives them peace and makes them feel happy.”
“Just be yourselves, do what you have trained, enjoy, be trustful of team work and support each other because on the shooting line, nobody (not even the coach) knows better than your partner of what’s happening.”
“Before a match, focus on communication, trust and adaptability; make sure to discuss strategies, strengths and weaknesses beforehand. During the match, stay calm, support each other and be willing to adjust your approach as needed; and most importantly, enjoy the experience and have fun competing together!”
Mixed team archery is a thrilling and complex event that challenges archers to be at their best both individually and as a unit.
The best teams are those that master the mental game, support each other through challenges and find the perfect synergy in their partnership.
By embracing the unique dynamics of mixed teams, archers can create winning strategies that lead to Olympic and Paralympic success.
