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Link to original content: http://web.archive.org/web/20180323215659/https://www.olympic.org/archery
Archery - Summer Olympic Sport
The Wayback Machine - http://web.archive.org/web/20180323131637/https://www.olympic.org/archery
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Archery


Archery, one of the oldest sports still practiced, is closely linked to the development of civilisation. As a cultural advance, it was comparable to the discovery of fire and the invention of the wheel.

Archery in battle

In 1200 BC the Hittites and Assyrians shot their bows from chariots, becoming fearsome opponents in battle. They made their bows with tendon, horn and wood and also developed a new re-curved shape. This made their bows shorter and more powerful, making them easier to handle for an archer on horseback.

A noble history

Archery was the favourite sport of the Egyptian pharaohs during the 18th dynasty (1567-1320 BC). Many centuries later, some of the earliest recorded archery tournaments took place during the Zhou (Chou) dynasty (1027- 256 BC) in China. Such events were attended by Chinese nobility. Much later, English writers honoured the longbow for famous contributions to their country’s victories in the battles of Crécy, Agincourt and Poitiers.

Most decorated archer

Archery first appeared in the Olympic Games in 1900, was contested again in 1904, 1908 and 1920, then again, after an absence of 52 years, from 1972 to the present. The most decorated archer in Olympic history is Hubert Van Innis of Belgium who competed in 1900 and 1920, winning six gold and three silver medals.

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Gallery

Archery - Individual Men
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Archery - Individual Men

Taylor Worth of Australia competes in the Men's Individual round of 8 Elimination Round on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images
Archery - Individual Men
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Archery - Individual Men

Brady Ellison of the United States competes in the Men's Individual Semifinal on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images / Matthias Hangst
Archery - Individual Men
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Archery - Individual Men

Brady Ellison of the United States celebrates winning a bronze medal in the Men's Individual Round on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images /Matthias Hangst
Archery - Individual Men
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Archery - Individual Men

Bonchan Ku of the Republic of Korea celebrates winning gold in the Men's Individual Round on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images - on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Archery - Individual Men
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Archery - Individual Men

Jean-Charles Valladont of France competes in the Men's Individual Quarterfinal on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images / Matthias Hangst
Archery - Individual Men
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Archery - Individual Men

Witthaya Thamwong of Thailand competes in the Men's Individual round of 8 Elimination Round on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images / Matthias Hangst
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