With just over two months until the Youth Olympic Games open in Senegal, two young Australian recurve archers now know they will be there. Brock Penna and Ellen Martini have been selected to represent Australia in archery at Dakar 2026, the first Olympic sporting event ever held on the African continent.
Both were selected following the national Youth Olympic selection camp at the Australian Institute of Sport, capping a strong twelve months for each of them. The Games run from 31 October to 13 November 2026, with archery contested at Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio. Sixty four athletes from 38 National Olympic Committees will compete across the boys’ and girls’ individual events and the mixed team competition.
Brock Penna, from Moonta Bay to Dakar
A birthday bow and a switch to recurve
Brock Penna (SA) is a recurve archer from Moonta Bay on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. His interest in archery started when he was given a compound bow for his eighth birthday, and he began training with Yorke Peninsula Field Archers in Kadina, a club he still belongs to today. In early 2022 he joined Mid North Archers in Port Pirie, soon transferring to Adelaide Archery Club, and by the middle of that year he had made the switch to Olympic recurve. His recurve journey is only four years old.
Four years, and second in the country
Brock progressed quickly through the national pathway. By 14 he was South Australia’s leading U18 archer and ranked second nationally in his age group, competing at senior level as well and joining Archery Australia’s National Recurve Program after being identified as an emerging elite athlete.
In 2025 he qualified for the Australian team selected for the World Archery Youth Championships in Winnipeg, although travel disruption prevented him and several South Australian teammates from competing. He made his international debut later that year at the Trans-Tasman Challenge in Christchurch, where he helped Australia to victory over New Zealand in the U18 men’s recurve division and came home with valuable international experience.
At the 2026 Australian Youth Championships in Launceston, Brock won the U18 field and doubles match play titles and collected silver medals in the 900 round, the 720 round and individual match play. Those performances earned him an invitation to the selection camp, and then the Australian team.
In his words
“I am proud to have been selected to represent Australia,” Brock said. “My hard work, training and commitment has paid off.”
“Representing Australia at my age is an opportunity of a lifetime.” Brock Penna
His goals for Dakar are refreshingly straightforward. “Shoot my best and make Australia proud, and have fun and enjoy the experience.” Asked what he is most looking forward to, he pointed to seeing the team uniform design, meeting athletes from around the world and learning from them, and simply the chance to represent Australia at his age.
Brock was quick to acknowledge his coach, Graham Winston, whose guidance has shaped his recurve shooting from the start.
Ellen Martini, from an Austrian mountainside to the Youth Olympics
A 3D course in the mountains
Ellen Martini (QLD) is a recurve archer from south-east Queensland who first tried the sport on a three-dimensional archery course while visiting the Austrian mountains. Captivated straight away, she later found a local club, began training regularly at 11, and discovered after her first competition that she enjoyed the pressure and the challenge.
Beating the older field
Ellen progressed rapidly through the national youth ranks. At the 2025 Australian Youth Championships she competed in both her U16 age group and the U18 division, winning events against older opponents to earn selection for her first Australian team. She went on to represent Australia in U18 women’s recurve at the World Archery Youth Championships in Winnipeg, placing 33rd individually and finishing ninth with the Australian team.
In 2026 she successfully defended her Australian youth title and became the youngest member of the Australian national squad. She was also selected in the U21 recurve team for the World Archery Field Championships in Yankton, United States, again stepping up to compete against archers several years her senior.
In her words
“It is absolutely indescribable to have years of hard work pay off in such a way.” Ellen Martini
“Myself from just a few years ago wouldn’t believe how far I’ve come, and I am truly grateful for everything this journey has taught me,” Ellen said. “It’s such an honour to have been selected for this once in a lifetime opportunity and I look forward to experiencing the highest level of youth sport.”
Her goals are focused on what the experience can teach her. “Above all, archery really tests your nerves, so I really want to learn how the factors of being at a major event and competing in front of a crowd affect your shooting. To be able to understand how I compete under pressure and what tactics work best for me will be extremely valuable for the rest of my career.”
“I’m excited for the entire experience,” she added. “It will be the largest event I have competed at by far and I look forward to learning as much about it as I can, and, of course, to getting a taste of the Olympic Games.”
The support behind her
Ellen credits the people around her for getting her this far. “Bron Healing, Taylor Worth, and my club, Centenary Archers, have all been very supportive.”
What happens next
Both archers will continue their preparation over the coming months before joining the wider Australian team heading to Senegal. Around 2700 young athletes from across the world will compete in 25 sports at Dakar 2026, and for Penna and Martini it will be the largest stage either has stepped onto.
Everyone at Archery Australia congratulates Brock and Ellen on their selection, along with the coaches, clubs and families who have supported them along the way.
To find out more about the archery competition at Dakar 2026, see the World Archery event page.
