A sport not widely known to the public, Archery attracts fans through various ways – sources of inspiration range from film and literature characters to “chance”. For instance, Fatima Rocha, who participated in four editions of the Pan American Games, was curious about the sport since childhood as her astrological sign is a Sagittarius, symbolised as a centaur wielding a bow. Daniel Xavier currently is Brazil’s best archer. He started practising the sport due to the influence of his father, archer José Maurício Xavier, and competed in the London 2012 Games, a dream he already pursued as a child, when he watched Robin Hood films.

Sarah Nikitin, from the state of São Paulo, is the first Brazilian woman to break the 1,300 points barrier (record holder with 1,307 points) and always enjoyed sports although she was not able to stand out in well-known sports such as Volleyball, Football and Handball. At the age of 14, inspired by Legolas, the Elf in Lord of the Rings film trilogy, she started training Archery seriously and today she reaps the benefits of her choice, which surprised even her whole family.

“I’m still a fan of the trilogy. I also enjoyed the first part of The Hobbit and I’m curious to see the others because they include elements that are not part of the original story”, said the young woman, who recalled the trajectory of other athletes such as Petra Ruocco:

“Various Brazilian archers shot their first arrows at the Willi Willie bar in São Paulo but that was a long time ago, like Petra Ruocco, who finished fifth in the Rio 2007 Pan American Games”, said the athlete who currently reads ASong of Ice and Fire, the novels that inspired HBO fantasy series, Game of Thrones.

Marina Canetta, who will represent Brazil along Sarah in the World Championships in Turkey, which will begin on the 29^th, started to practise Archery by chance.

“I started to practise in 2004. The Ibirapuera Sports Complex (São Paulo) hosts various sports and I was looking for Fencing, which I always wanted to practise, but I didn’t find it. What I found was the Archery Department and so I started training. Unlike other athletes’ stories, mine is not exciting. They have relatives or were inspired by films and novels. My debut in the sport was quite simple, really by chance”, the 23-year-old athlete explained.

The inspiration for 5-year-old Julia Minervini can be found in fairy tales.  And Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty have played no part in that. Her passion for Archery comes from her admiration for Merida, the heroine of Brave.

“Julia is crazy about Merida. We travelled to an inn located in Nova Friburgo, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where Archery was available. She was thrilled when she found out about it. But the bow was too big for her size” her father, Fábio Minervini, says.

Regardless of the way they made their debut in the sport, one thing is certain. Brazilian archers are “bullied” by athletes that practise other sports.

“Wow, how fun!’ That is the sentence we hear the most. And Robin Hood, William Tell and Cupid are the nicknames… Men always say: ‘Oh, so you’re Cupid’s girl”, archer Michelle Acquesta said.