Greatest archers of all time: 10 of the best toxophilites ever

Greatest archers of all time: 10 of the best toxophilites ever

Sospeter Itolondo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:20 PM

Arching is one of the most artistic sports encouraging athletes who have concentration, discipline and keenness. It has grown to be one of the best sports to watch in the recent past. So, who are the greatest archers of all time?

most famous archers
Soo Nyung (bronze) and her compatriots at the Sydney International Archery Park on Day Four of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Mark Dadswell
Source: Getty Images

South Koreans and Italians dominate the list as some of the best archers as the sport is also more popular in those countries. Archers like Hiroshi Yamamoto, Im Hyun and Kim Soo Nyung have made history breaking and breaking records. Here is a list of the world’s greatest archers.

Top 10 greatest archers

To excel in this sport you need precision, accuracy and concentration. These are fabulous athletes who have written their names in history books. Do you know who the best archers are? Here are the 10 best toxophilites:

10. Hiroshima Yamamoto

He debuted his career in 1981 competing in his first Olympics in 1984 thereby winning a bronze medal at the tournament. His talent knew no bounds as his high school and college career was filled with incredible wins garnering 7 national titles in the time which is a record. In his other appearances in the Olympics, the star athlete did not go back home with any silverware as he finished eighth in Seoul in 1988, 17th in Barcelona in 1992 and 19th in 1996 Atlanta. He represented Japan in his career.

who were the best archers
Hiroshi Yamamoto(C) celebrates on the podium for the Archery Men's Team during the 12th Asian Games Hiroshima at Senogawa Park Archery Field on October 10, 1994, in Hiroshima, Japan.
Source: Getty Images

9. Park Kyung-Mo

He is a South Korean who has won three medals for his country; two gold and one silver while boasting of the world number one title for a while. He also won 4 championship gold medals among his six championship medals.

the greatest archer of all time
Park Kyung Mo shoots during the Men's team event Archery against Korea during the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 at the Lusail Archery Range on December 13, 2006, in Doha. Photo: Christof Koespel
Source: Getty Images

8. Lee Sung Jin

The South Korean has three Olympic medals in the three appearances she made for her country. She was once the world number one and won a Championship in 2005 which is impressive since she did not consider archery as her main sport. In school, she preferred track events.

world's greatest archers
Sung Jin Lee during her Women's Individual Archery Quarter Final match on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Lord's Cricket Ground on August 2, 2012, in London, England. Photo: Paul Gilham
Source: Getty Images

7. Michele Frangilli

The Italian has won three medals for his country one being a gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics. He is heavily praised due to his longevity boasting 7 world championship medals he got between 1999 and 2011.

world greatest archer in history
Michele Frangilli shoots in the recurve men's team gold final at the World Archery Championships on August 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: Dean Alberga
Source: Getty Images

6. Marco Galiazzo

The Italian is the only person from his country with multiple gold medals while holding the world number one. He won gold in the London 2012 Olympics. The star has also won multiple championships appearing on the podium severally.

who is the best archer ever?
Marco Galiazzo in action during his Men's Individual Recurve during the Archery World Cup held in the East Princes Street Gardens on September 19, 2010, in Edinburgh. Photo: Hamish Blair
Source: Getty Images

5. Darrell Pace

The American remains the only archer to win multiple gold medals in individual games in the Olympic games. He boasts of winning gold in Montreal in 1978, Los Angeles in 1984 and a silver medal in the team event in 1988. The star has also won 8 pan American Games medals in his career.

the greatest archer of all time
Darrell Pace in action in the Men's Archery at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Photo: David Cannon
Source: Getty Images

4. Ki Bo Bae

She is considered the greatest archer of all time by some due to her incredible talent and wit. She won the 2012 London Olympic gold medal with ease past her competitor on an individual level. The phenomenal athlete did not stop there as she went on to win another gold medal with her team.

Who is the god of archers?
Ki Bo Bae of South Korea during the Women's recurve finals during the Hyundai Archery World Cup 2017 Stage 1 on May 20, 2017, in Shanghai, China. Photo: Dean Alberga
Source: Getty Images

She also boasts of holding the world record of 686 where she edged out her compatriot Park Sung Hyun’s 682. The record had been standing for more than 11 years. She also won 7 world championship medals including 5 gold medals between 2011 and 2015.

3. Yun Mi-Jin

She is one of the most famous archers in the world holding the record for 173/180 for the 18-arrow contest. She has 3 Olympic medals being a world champion on three occasions achieving the honour of being only the third Korean to have this feat. The star athlete also boasts of being the former number one in women’s recurve.

who were the best archers
Yun Mi-Jin picks out an arrow during the Women's Archery Competition in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games at the Dekelia Archery Field in the Greek capital, 12 August 2004. Photo: Romeo Gacad
Source: Getty Images

2. Im Hyun

One of the things that make him so great is he has 20/200 vision in his left eye and 20/100 in his right eye which puts him at a disadvantage. The South Korean legend set the record for the 72-arrow men’s individual recurve with a 687 score in his debut appearance at the Athens Olympics. He reset the record again in 2012 at 699 beating his countryman Kim Bub-Min by one point. He has eight world championships.

who is the best archer ever?
Im-Hyun of South Korea prepares for action during the ranking round of the Men's Archery Competition in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games at Dekelia Archery Field, 12 August 2004. Photo: Romeo Gacad
Source: Getty Images

1. Kim Soo Nyung

So, who is the best archer ever? Kim Soo Nyung is the name. The star is also the most decorated archer in the Olympics with six medals. She retired from the sport in 1992 after getting married and made a comeback in 1999 marking her return with a bronze medal in Sydney in 2000.

greatest archers
Soo-Nyung Kim of Korea in action during, the final of the Women's Archery Team event at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, held at Archery Park in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Robert Cianflone
Source: Getty Images

She also has 4 world championship gold medals and an Asian Games Bronze medal. The International Archery Federation recognized her as the Female Archer of the 20th century. She is considered the world’s greatest archer in history.

Who is the god of archers?

Apollo is considered the god of archers in Greek mythology. He was also considered the god of music, dance, truth, healing, diseases, and the Sun. He was also the most famous god of archery.

South Koreans dominate the list of the greatest archers of all time with the incredible Kim Soo Nyung taking the top spot. Im Hyun takes the second spot as he defied all odds to become of the best archers of our times. The list keeps on growing as more talented archers are unveiled.

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Sospeter Itolondo
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