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Olympics viewers mind-blown after video shows how far archery target really is at Paris games

Home> News> Sport

Published 17:03 2 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Olympics viewers mind-blown after video shows how far archery target really is at Paris games

It might look close on TV, but the reality is very different

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

Eye-opening footage of the archery events at the Olympics has left viewers shocked over the distance the arrows have to cover.

Admit it; there are definitely moments you've been watching the Olympics and thought, 'I could do that'.

Archers are involved in knockout rounds before reaching the final. (PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images)
Archers are involved in knockout rounds before reaching the final. (PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images)

Maybe not the gymnastics or the triathlons, but there might be a tiny part of you which is convinced you could take on the athletes when it comes to running down a track, or aiming an arrow at a target.

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But while such a scenario would make for some entertaining TV, I can guarantee the athletes are going to beat you, and it's because it's all much harder than it looks.

One video that proves this was taken during archery events at Paris 2024, where the archers stepped up, secured their bows and prepared to fire at the targets.

Watching the event on TV, it's easy to assume the targets are set up only a few meters away - we typically watch it all through zoom lenses to make sure we can see exactly where that arrow is landing.



But the perspective is entirely different from within the crowd, when you can see every single one of those 70 - yes, 70 - meters between the archer and the target.

For reference, that's more than half the length of a football field.

In comparison, the targets are just 122cm in diameter, meaning you really do have to have a lot of skill even to be able to hit it - let alone get a bullseye.

Footage from the crowd has gone viral after it was shared online, where one person wrote: "Anyone else’s mind blown when you realise how far away the Olympics archery target is?!"

The target is actually 70 meters away. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
The target is actually 70 meters away. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

"On TV they never show that. Wow.," responded another, while a third commented: "They should really make this more clear in the broadcast."

Another viewer shared their amazement as they admitted to being captivated by the sport, writing: "This is why I love the Olympics….I get more excited to watch these random a** sports than anything I normally watch, how the hell are you supposed to hit this target? I don’t think I’d be able to get the arrow halfway there."

There are a total of five archery events at the Olympics, including two individual competitions for men and women, two team competitions for men and women, and a mixed team competition.

The individual competitions begin with a ranking round, where archers shoot 72 arrows to determine their ranking for the single-elimination bracket.

The athletes continue to compete in this knockout system until the final.

Featured Image Credit: Julian Finney / Staff/Anadolu / Contributor

Topics: Olympics, Sport, France, Viral

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.

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