At 33 years old, Italian archer Simone Barbieri stood at full draw facing the fiercest pressure of his career. In the Men’s Barebow Finals of The World Games 2025 on 16 August, Barbieri went arrow-to-arrow with former Olympic champion Simon John Fairweather of Australia and emerged as Italy’s newest archery hero, securing the gold medal in a gripping finish that showcased both technical mastery and mental fortitude.
Barbieri’s quiet confidence, precise execution, and resilient mindset have carved his name into the history of The World Games. In this new series, - Heroes of the Games-, his story stands as a testament not only to triumph but to the profound personal journey behind it.
A Defining Moment
Barbieri vividly recalls the turning point of the match:
“I will never forget my penultimate arrow, I had to get the maximum score to be able to access the shoot-off (the decisive arrow) and so I did. And it was that very arrow that made me think, *‘Okay, I can do it. I can do it!’*
So I shot the last arrow, the decisive one, much more calmly and confidently.”
When he stepped onto the podium, the emotion was inward rather than outward.
“On the podium, I dedicated most of my thoughts to what I did to get there. I deserved it. And I'm grateful to myself.”
Barbieri’s path was anything but linear. Archery began as a childhood hobby, but he drifted to faster, more adrenaline-driven sports. Then the pandemic changed everything.
“I started archery as a child, abandoning it for more adrenaline-filled sports, only to pick it up again during COVID. It was the right time; I needed an introspective and competitive sport.”
He climbed the ranks through intense national selection events.
“Since then, I've taken on many challenges, including The World Games qualification competitions, where many Italian archers aspired to participate. Even when the competitions didn't go well, I only thought about how much I love archery and the pleasure I get from doing it.”
Held once every four years, The World Games expand every movement, every breath, every release.
“The World Games happen once every four years, so you have a lot of eyes on you and there's more pressure to do well. It's a truly great event filled with great athletes from many disciplines that unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of meeting them or watching other competition.”
A Gold Medal in the Pocket
Winning gold often transforms a career overnight — but Barbieri says he remains grounded.
“I've certainly attracted a lot of interest from friends and people around me, but this sport is still too niche to talk about major changes after a victory like this. I'm staying focused on what I've always done, as if nothing had happened. I hope this sport grows into something bigger and that more and more people will be interested.”
Barbieri leaves aspiring athletes with this philosophy:
“Believe it — Believe it because nothing is impossible or too difficult to achieve if approached with method and perseverance. Believing in yourself, positive self-talk, and sacrifice are the keys to all this.”