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What distance do Olympic archers shoot?

Published in Archery Distances 2 mins read

Olympic archers shoot at a standard distance of 70 meters (77 yards). This is the official and most common range for recurve archery in Olympic competitions.

Understanding Archery Distances

While 70 meters is the standard distance for outdoor Olympic target archery, archers also train and compete at other ranges depending on the specific event or training environment.

Standard Competition Ranges

The primary distance for Olympic archers during the actual Olympic Games and major international outdoor competitions is fixed:

  • Outdoor Olympic Archery: 70 meters (77 yards)

This consistent distance ensures fair competition and allows archers to refine their technique for this specific range.

Indoor Archery Distances

Archers, including those who compete at the Olympic level, also participate in indoor competitions, which utilize shorter distances. These events are often held during off-seasons or as separate disciplines.

  • Indoor Archery:
    • 18 meters (20 yards)
    • 25 meters (27 yards)

These shorter indoor distances require different aiming points and techniques due to the confined space and typically smaller target faces.

Summary of Archery Distances

To provide a clear overview, here's a table summarizing the common shooting distances in archery, differentiating between standard outdoor Olympic competition and indoor events:

Competition Type Standard Distance (Meters) Equivalent Distance (Yards) Notes
Olympic Archery 70 m 77 yds Standard for outdoor Olympic competitions.
Indoor Archery 18 m or 25 m 20 yds or 27 yds Used for indoor competitions and training.

The precise distance of 70 meters for Olympic archery is a key factor that challenges archers' precision, consistency, and ability to handle varying outdoor conditions like wind.