Elite international archery competition makes its Florida debut

AUBURNDALE, Fla. — In competitive archery, the arrow can travel distances up to 230 feet.

For Casey Kaufhold, the sport has actually taken her so much farther.

It has literally taken her around the world. She has represented the United States in two Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris games. Archery has opened up a lot of doors for Casey.

“It’s something that I’ve worked towards for so long, and I’ve dreamed of since I was 12 years old,” Kaufhold said.

That’s how this Pennsylvania native ended up in Polk County. Kaufhold participated in the Central Florida Hyundai Archery World Cup from April 8 to 13. It’s the first time this elite international event featuring more than 300 athletes from all over the world has been hosted in Florida.

Organizers said they hope to host two other qualifying events leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Kaufhold had high praise for the Auburndale facilities and sees a future for archery in Florida.

“I shot a bow for the first time when I was 3 years old,” she said. “So to have that experience at such a young age, I just really fell in love with it, and we did it for fun in the backyard for so long, and I’m just a naturally competitive person. You give me a scorecard, and I just run with it.”

Kaufhold is somewhat of a trailblazer in this sport. She’s the first American female to hold a world No. 1 ranking. And while she strives to be the very best in her discipline, she is equally dedicated to the sport she fell in love with at a very young age. She is very aware that there are a lot of young, impressionable eyes watching her at events.

And she said she hopes she showcases archery in a way that intrigues them enough to give it a try.

“Other than, of course, winning medals, a big goal of my career is to inspire other people to shoot,” Kaufhold said. “Whether it’s recreationally, whether it’s for hunting, whether to do something like this one day, I just want to get the word of archery out there because I just want people behind a bow.”