While the level in Dakar in both the men’s and women’s categories has been impressively high, Lamouret’s consistency in the inner two golden rings made it that little bit harder for his opponents.
Chinese Taipei’s Chen found that out the hard way.
Sets of 29, 28, 29, 28 and 28 still represent a fine individual display, and overall he only landed one fewer 10 than this year’s Rome 2026 European youth champion. But in elite sport, fine margins are everything.
Even in his earlier match against eventual bronze medallist Lee Jiho, the number one seed did not look completely at ease, with his release often visibly giving him trouble, despite still getting most of his arrows into the nine or 10-rings.
Lamouret was the opposite. As his 1.90-metre frame stood firmly balanced on the shooting line, his lack of emotion, compared to Singapore 2025 Asia Cup bronze medallist Chen, was almost as daunting as his physical presence.
“Yes, I feel ready,” he responded when asked whether he was ready to step up to senior level after Dakar. “Now it’s starting [to click] so I feel ready and hope I will be able to make more [squads].”
Thomas Chirault, Jean-Charles Valladont and Baptiste Addis certainly look like the settled trio for LA28, as they were for Paris 2024. However, should anything happen to them during the next Olympic cycles, whether through a drop in form or injury, Lamouret looks confident that he could step in without any stress, despite not yet having competed at that level internationally.
He already looks physically and mentally ready for the 70-metre scene.
Tomorrow, it is the turn of the recurve women in the finals before the mixed team event brings archery in Dakar to a close on Tuesday.
You can watch it live and for free here.
